A donated stove is helping improve daily meal service at Primavera Foundation’s Men’s Shelter kitchen. The equipment, provided through a community partnership with Economy Restaurant Supply and Chef Todd Eanes of Caridad Community Kitchen, is already making a difference in how meals are prepared and served.

For Primavera Kitchen Manager Victor Hightower, the upgrade strengthens the kitchen’s ability to consistently provide fresh, home-cooked meals for shelter participants.“ Getting a replacement oven was really important for us,” Hightower said. “We rely on it every day to prepare fresh, home-cooked meals.”

The donation came together through a community connection as staff worked to replace aging equipment, ultimately resulting in the donated stove now in regular use at the shelter.

Left to Right: Shelter Operations Specialist Jocelyn Garcia, MS Participant Dave Martinez, Shelter Kitchen Manager Victor Hightower, and Senior Shelter Operations Specialist Toni Mermea

A few weeks ago, at Primavera Men's Shelter, Kitchen Manager Victor Hightower noticed an abundance of donated sack lunches and decided to get creative rather than let anything go to waste. The sandwiches were simple bologna and cheese, but he added an extra slice and turned them into grilled cheese.

One of the participants, Dave Martinez—known as one of the most helpful, optimistic, and friendly individuals around—loved them. He mentioned they’d be even better with pickles, and that idea stuck with Victor. A few days later, he shared that there was some Swiss cheese they could try next time. David liked that. And then they agreed to add bacon.

So today, Victor created "The Dave Martinez" sandwich: Swiss and American cheeses, a touch of mayo, crispy bacon, and, of course, pickles. Then he invited Dave to be the first to try it.

Moments like this highlight the heart behind the work we do—finding small ways to uplift and care for the people we serve, such as turning simple meals into meaningful acts of service and connection.

Something delicious is stirring at Primavera! We are thrilled to share that Primavera Cooks! is back for an exciting 2026 season.

This beloved gathering brings together food lovers and community supporters to champion Primavera's work. Prepare to join us for an evening of exceptional flavors and meaningful impact.

More details, including how you can secure your spot at the table or the kitchen, will be arriving in your inbox soon. We cannot wait to share this special experience with you! Stay tuned.

As Tucson faces longer and more intense heat seasons, the City of Tucson’s Climate Action Team is finding creative ways to keep the community safe. Recently, the team brought its custom “Heat Lotería” game to Primavera Foundation’s Casa Paloma women’s shelter and STAR Village to teach residents about heat safety, community resilience and local resources in a fun and interactive way. 

The Tucson-inspired version of the traditional game combines education with entertainment, featuring information about hydration, heat stress prevention and checking in on neighbors during extreme temperatures. Residents also received heat relief supplies, wellness items, and resource guides. 

The program has already received positive feedback from participants and continues expanding throughout Tucson communities. 

The Primavera Foundation was honored to attend today’s community giving ceremony, where eegee’s presented generous donations to local nonprofits raised through their successful coupon card campaign.

Thanks to the incredible support of the community, Primavera was proud to receive a $25,000 donation. These funds will directly support the vital work of assisting individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty throughout Southern Arizona.

Primavera extends its sincere gratitude to eegee’s for their commitment to investing back into the community and for their ongoing support of organizations dedicated to making a positive difference every day.

Join Primavera and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) in this year's Water. Rest. Shade. Campaign!

Give $5, $25, $50, $75, $100, $500 or more, and help keep our community protected from the heat. Every donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Tucson Electric Power up to $25,000. 

Primavera Foundation recently received a generous grant from The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation to support Water Rest Shade Heat Relief Campaign.

Last year's Water, Rest, Shade campaign provided 13,000 heat relief services and resources to thousands of community members at Primavera’s Resource Center drop-in center, the Primavera Men's Shelter, and Casa Paloma.

Between May and October of last year, Primavera operated three cooling centers, providing community members a place to rest, recharge, and obtain supplies such as water, cooling towels, hydration packets, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, sandals, snacks, and water stations.

Help protect our vulnerable neighbors from the summer heat. Together, we can make a life-saving difference.

The 2026 Jim Click Millions for Tucson Raffle is ongoing! The Primavera Foundation is proud to be one of the many nonprofit organizations participating in this year’s raffle.

100% of the proceeds from ticket sales will be retained by the organization that is selling them. You will have the chance to win one of the three great prizes listed below, and your purchase will also directly support the Primavera Foundation!

Mr. Click is raffling three great prizes this year:

Tickets are available for $25.00 each or 5 tickets for $100. 

STAFF: We are doing an internal employee competition! The employee who sells the most tickets wins a $100 gift card. Reach out to Pete for tickets!

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Philanthropy and Donors Connection Officer, Pete Corrigan, at pcorrigan@primavera.org. 

Disclaimer: Raffle ticket purchases are NOT considered donations. To make a tax-deductible donation to the Primavera Foundation, visit the Give page. 

Recently, federal food assistance programs have been challenged, food prices are rising, and the need for food assistance across the community is growing.

Join us in our Operation Food Security campaign to provide essential meals to those we serve.

Your food donations will support participants staying in our shelters and taking part in Primavera programs, including individuals, families, veterans, and seniors.

How can you help? 

Most needed non-perishable items include: Canned protein, rice, pasta, cereal, peanut butter, canned fruits & vegetables, and snacks.

To donate food or learn more, contact Sophia at 520-882-3707 x1509 or ssmith.gatto@primavera.org.

At STAR Village, we are dedicated to providing a stable, supportive environment for those working toward permanent housing. To keep our programs running smoothly and our residents comfortable, we rely on the kindness of our community to help us keep our shelves stocked.

We are currently in need of the following items:

Breakfast food items
Non-perishable snacks
Sofa (3-seater or 2-seater)

For more information, email Sophia at ssmith.gatto@primavera.org.

Online Wishlist: If you prefer to shop from home, you can view our Amazon Wishlist here: STAR Village Amazon Wishlist

Your generosity makes a tangible difference in the daily lives of our residents. Thank you for being a vital part of the STAR Village community!

Want to make a tangible difference? Grab your official Primavera Foundation T-shirt today! 

At just $20 (+$8 shipping), you’re supporting everything from street outreach, shelters, drop-in centers, workforce development to financial education and community growth.

Available in soft-touch fabric (S-2XL), these are perfect for everyday wear. We have limited stock available, so grab yours before they're gone!

The lists below have the latest items Primavera programs need. The lists are updated frequently to adapt to the ever-changing needs of each location: Mobile Outreach, Homelessness, Intervention & Prevention (HIP), Men's Shelter, Casa Paloma Women's Shelter and Hospitality Center, Project Action for Veterans (PAV), Rapid Rehousing, Family Pathways, Primavera Works, and now STAR Village. Purchasing items from an Amazon list is one way to support our programs. We appreciate everyone's generosity and support!

If you have any questions, contact Sophia Smith-Gatto at ssmith.gatto@primavera.org. 

Primavera Works offers supervised crews for yard maintenance and water harvesting, as well as individual workers for general labor, moving, landscaping, construction cleanup, janitorial services, and more. Services are available for both residential and business needs. If you are interested in hiring Primavera Works, please contact us to discuss your project at (520) 882-9668 or visit our website.