The mission team at St. John on the Desert has spent the past decade focusing on social justice, specifically working to reduce homelessness in Tucson.
Once they determined that addressing homelessness in Tucson should be a priority for their church, Mission Team Elder Diane Kent and her team began searching for local agencies to provide direction regarding the best ways to support unhoused individuals or individuals who were at risk of losing their homes.
“As that initiative began to develop, we interviewed and vetted local agencies in the Tucson area and Primavera was ‘adopted’,” said Kent. “Being a small congregation, we know there’s wisdom in giving to organizations like you because of the direct impact on the community.”
Winter is always a focal point for the team at St. John on the Desert as they begin their “reverse advent” campaign, which signals the shift from receiving to giving during the holiday season.
In just a few weeks, they will launch their Hearts for Giving campaign in which they invite congregations to use their tax credit donations to support their mission partners, with Primavera Foundation serving as their focus partner in 2025. Their other partners include Youth on Their Own, Gospel Rescue Mission, Old Pueblo Community Services, and Our Family Services.
“Our vision and mission for our church is supporting people who are unhoused or at risk,” said Kent. “We want to get people warmed up this time of year. It brings life to the community.”
If you would like to partner with Primavera to make a difference in our community, please visit our Volunteer page or our Give page.