By Susie Huhn

Executive Director

When you’ve been busy for awhile – and we have been busy for awhile – it is startling to wake up one morning and realize it’s time to start planning your Thanksgiving!

 On a drive home from Phoenix the other day, I finally had time to think about my grocery list. I also had a minute to reflect on the occasion itself; on what it means, and how hard it would be to adequately thank everyone who deserves thanks from Casa de los Niños.

 We say “please” all the time. As a nonprofit organization, it’s what we do! We are always thinking about the things we need. We spend the rest of our time trying to find them.

 Well, for the next week I’m going to be grateful for all that we already have.

 I am thankful for our caring, dedicated, talented team of staff members who wear their passion for children on their sleeves … and bring it to work every day.

 I am thankful for the other nonprofit agencies with which we work, those partners and friends in the Tucson community who help make it a better place.

 I am thankful for the many government employees who are often overworked and under-appreciated but go the extra mile to help the children and families we are all trying to serve.

 Perhaps most importantly, I am thankful for the thousands of friends and neighbors who help us every day. Many of you serve Casa de los Niños as volunteers, working side-by-side with our staff members to care for the kids and provide them with all the TLC you have to give. Others of you volunteer your time and talent to serve on our Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.   

 Many of you help us by being donors. Casa de los Niños would not be here without the support we have received from the Tucson community. From Day One we were Tucson’s baby, and you have been beside us every step of the way.

 Others of you donate to, and shop at, our Thrift Store. Some of you hold toy drives and clothing drives on our behalf. And there are those who help us in another important way: by praying for our children every day. All these things matter, and I am grateful for every one of them.

 Happy Thanksgiving!