Homeless families to get holiday dinner

This News By You article was submitted by Melissa Quillard of Waste Management of Arizona Inc.

Imagine Thanksgiving Day without all of the trimmings - no turkey, no pie, not even a place to call home.

Hundreds of families in the Valley face this problem as the holidays approach. That's why Waste Management of Arizona has teamed with Central Arizona Shelter Services to provide a Thanksgiving Day Extravaganza to dozens of homeless families staying at the Vista Colina Emergency Family Shelter.

The event will be held Thanksgiving Day. WMAZ will provide and serve turkey dinner with all of the fixings. There will be several activities for the children, including a moon bounce and a craft station for family pictures.

The shelter is at 1050 W. Mountain View, between Peoria and Dunlap avenues.

CASS established Vista Colina in 1992 to provide homeless families the opportunity to remain together with supportive services, including child care that is available on site. It is provided at no cost to the families.

CASS opened in 1984 in response to the need for shelter for central Arizona's homeless. Today, it is the largest homeless shelter in Arizona. In fiscal year 2007-08, CASS served close to 5,000 homeless.

Waste Management of Arizona and its 980 employees provide waste and recycling services to nearly 500,000 customers throughout Arizona. Its parent firm, Waste Management Inc., is based in Houston.

For more information, contact Katia Brown of Central Arizona Shelter Services at 602-705-4383 or kbrown@

cass-az.org or Melissa Quillard of Waste Management at 602-579-6152 or

mquillar@wm.com.