2023 Projects
Hug-A-Bears a Gift That Lasts Forever
Teddy bears are synonymous with childhood. For many kids, they are soft, cuddly friends to play and sleep with – or simply shower with hugs and kisses. But to other children who have suffered a traumatic event or injury, a teddy bear can be a lifeline of emotional support.
We would like to introduce you to Harrison and his new best friend! In February of this year, we received a beautiful message from the family of Harrison about how he and his new best friend met.
“Just a note to say “thank you”. My son had a heart transplant in November 2021 so he’s no stranger to medical care. Tonight was his first ambulance ride and he was gifted one of your handmade teddy bears to hold during the ride. He’s now snuggled up and sleeping with it in his hospital bed. – Beth (Mom)”
Our Chapter president, Barbara Palmer, reached out in inquire about how little Harrison was doing and to find out more about this touching story. We heard back from Harrison’s mom Beth with an update:
“Thankfully he is doing well. He received a heart transplant a year ago and overall has managed to stay healthy. He was hospitalized for something that most kids could overcome easily but he needed some medical care because of his compromised immune system. We are from Phoenix, Arizona. He got the bear from an ambulance drive on our ride from Tucson (where we had been visiting) back to our Home hospital in Phoenix. We were discharged yesterday and we double checked to make sure his new friend made it home with us. I love to volunteer and am also fulfilled by it but it’s even better when you can actually hear about a person you’ve touched. Thank you again, Beth & Harrison”
Over the last 30 years, the Hug-A-Bear program has been an important cornerstone of the Pioneers volunteer network. Just about every chapter across the country dedicates resources to crafting teddy bears for children who are facing some sort of trauma, such as a medical emergency, domestic violence, house fire or hospitalization. After the Hug-A-Bears are sewn and stuffed to strict standards, Pioneers then distribute the bears to emergency responders, woman’s shelters, and hospitals to have on hand when needed.
Finally, these fluffy bears are welcomed into the arms of young children to help provide calm and comfort during an emotional storm. Over the years, many emergency responders have shared how, by simply snuggling with the bears, scared kids are better able to communicate with them in critical situations. In many cases, the bears remain a source of emotional support long after the traumatic event has passed.
In Southern Arizona, we have been lovingly making Hug-A-Bears for over 35 years. On average, we are able to make and distribute over 150 bears each month thanks to the many dedicated volunteers who cut, sew and stuff these beautiful and cherished friends.
Harrison’s mom Beth put it beautifully, volunteering is even better when you actually hear about the person you’ve touched.
If you would like to volunteer, or need additional information, please visit our Upcoming Events page for more information.
Marana Clothing Bank
In January, the SACC made a donation to the Marana Clothing bank located within the Marana Unified School Districts Family Resource Center. We donated shoes, backpacks, lunch boxes and a box full of gently used clothes and jackets! What a wonderful community resource.
2022 Projects
2022 Mighty Mentors Lap Robe delivery to Tucson Medical Center & Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation
Students from Amphi Middle School Mighty Mentors program decorated lap robes and made cards for the children at Tucson Medical Center. Mentors Faye Chandler and Patrick Smothers delivered them to Heather at Tucson Medical Center Children’s Center.
Students from Amphi Middle School Mighty Mentors program also wrapped lap robes and made cards for the residents at Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation Center!
Thank you to everyone who participated in this project!
2022 Fall Donation to Emerge!
On Tuesday, December 3rd, Anna Patton and Patti Pace were able to deliver another large donation to our community partner and a grateful staff at the Emerge Center for Domestic Abuse.
We loaded up our volunteer vehicle with an amazing amount of items including purses, clothing, shoes, personal hygiene items, planners, toys, Hug-A-Bears, tote bags and lots of luggage!
This donation was made such a success in part due to a grant from PioneersVolunteer.org, our volunteers and of course from all our generous members. This is one of our favorite projects and we look forward to doing it again next year! If you would like to donate any items or would like additional information, please contact Anna Patton at (520) 444-1874 or via email at annaaylaamber@aol.com. Emerge Wish List
2022 Summer Donation to Emerge! SURPRISE!
On Thursday, June 23rd, Anna Patton and Patti Pace were able to deliver another large donation to our community partner and a grateful staff at the Emerge Center for Domestic Abuse.
We loaded up our volunteer vehicle with an amazing amount of items including 27 purses, 65 pieces of clothing, 21 pairs of shoes, 3 boxes of tampons, 4 shower bags, 3 adult/teen coloring books, 8 bottles of shampoo, 10 bars of soap, 24 tubes of toothpaste, 17 toothbrushes, 2 bottles of sunblock, 4 packages of Kleenex, 12 hair bonnets, 6 razors, 2 hand sanitizers, 1 bottle of lotion, 3 hair dyes, 5 hair masks, 18 hairbrushes, 25 face masks, 100 pieces of jewelry, 32 tote bags and 14 pieces of luggage! WHEW
This donation was made such a success in part due to a grant from PioneersVolunteer.org, our volunteers and of course from all our generous members. This is one of our favorite projects and we look forward to doing it again this fall! If you would like to donate any items or would like additional information, please contact Anna Patton at (520) 444-1874 or via email at annaaylaamber@aol.com. Emerge Wish List
2022 Spring Donation to Emerge!
On Wednesday, May 4th, Anna Patton and Patti Pace were able to deliver another large donation to our community partner and a grateful staff at the Emerge Center for Domestic Abuse.
We loaded up our volunteer vehicle with an amazing amount of items including 90 totes, 5 insulated totes, 28 boxes of feminine menstrual products, 4 planners, 4 deodorants, 7 toothbrushes, 3 toothpaste, 6 hand sanitizers, 2 petroleum jellies, 8 razors, 15 bars of soap, 50 pairs of earrings, 45 pieces of new clothing with tags, 27 purses, 23 pieces of luggage, and 23 pairs of new shoes & slippers.
This donation was made such a success in part due to a grant from PioneersVolunteer.org, our spring soft goods drive and of course from all our generous members. This is one of our favorite projects and we look forward to doing it again this fall! If you would like to donate any items or would like additional information, please contact Anna Patton at (520) 444-1874 or via email at annaaylaamber@aol.com. Emerge Wish List
2021 Projects
Fall Donation to Emerge!
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- Thank you Kristina from Emerge!
On Monday November 15, 2021, we were able to complete another large donation to our community partner at Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse . Some of the items we donated were 35 pairs of shoes, 15 pieces of luggage, 64 totes, 57 pieces of new clothing, 11 purses and a few other items. Anna Patton and Patti Pace again delivered these items to a grateful staff. This project has been made possible in part from a grant from the Pioneers Organization and our semiannual soft good donation!
2021 Marana USD Clothing Bank
Thank you to Vickie from the Marana Unified School District Clothing Bank at the Family Resource Center. We donated to containers full of gently used clothes, shoes and backpacks.
Summer Luggage Donation to Emerge!
Another large luggage donation to our community partner at Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse. We were able to donate 22 pieces of luggage, 4 totes, 10 pieces of new clothing, 5 shampoos, and 20 packages of feminine hygiene products. Anna Patton and Patti Pace again delivered these items to a grateful staff. This project has been made possible in part from a grant from the Pioneers Organization!
Spring Luggage Donation to Emerge!
A BIG thank you to all of our members for helping to contribute to this massive donation to Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse. We were able to donate over 17 pieces of luggage, 75+ pieces of new clothing, including over 30 purses as well as 50 reusable totes and a big box of feminine hygiene products. Anna Patton and Patti Pace had the honor of delivering these items and Kristina was there to graciously accept these items from us. The luggage project is a new one for us this year and has been made possible as a part of our soft goods collection and a grant from the Pioneers Organization!
1st of the year Totes for Good Donation to Emerge!
This months donation to the Emerge! Domestic Violence Shelter – 51 tote bags, 30 pieces of new clothes, 4 purses, 2 large packages of feminine products. Thank you to everyone who contributed!
Emerge is in dire need right now. If anyone would like to donate any luggage or new with tags clothing in addition to totes, please contact Anna Patton at (520) 444-1874 or Patti Pace at (520) 241-6849. Thank you to everyone who donated to our soft goods drive. It really helps so many of our partner projects. Keep an eye out for the next one coming soon!
https://www.facebook.com/SoAZPioneers/posts/3668387786571525
2020/2021 Hug-A-Bear Delivery – wrapping up the year and starting the new one out with even more bears!
2020 Projects
Helping our Community
Helping our Community: A BIG thank you to our members Sherry Daughtry and Mo Ryan for their continued work in our local community. They have been working on a project in partnership with their local church to deliver lap robes, food, masks, etc to students and families in need to John B. Wright Elementary: http://tusd1.org/wright
Hug-A-Bears
Even through tough times, we still deliver Hug-A-Bears to Rural Metro Fire – Pima County . This is Paul Chau receiving the bears each month. Thank you to everyone who keeps the HAB train moving along! 
November Drive-By Drop-Off
We had a successful drive by drop off last week for the SACC Pioneers. Working on military support, hug-a-bears, Treasures 4 Teachers of Tucson, school supplies, Jim Click raffle tickets, pop tops for Ronald McDonald house, Christmas stockings, and of course our soft goods drive fundraising for the club!
Hug-A-Bears
Ivey Stamper, who has been sewing hug a bears for us. Dropping off sewn bears, picking up 100 more to sew. Ivey retired in 1980, and is still volunteering! Thank you, Ivey!
September Collection Drive-thru
We had a tremendously successful event today. Many members came by to drop off donations and some even stayed awhile (masked up of coarse) and caught up. We collected items for our many different projects and even sold some Jim Click Raffle tickets! We are planning on doing this again next month, stay tuned for details!
Hug-A-Bears
From our board member Jan Pitts:
“You can tell what I have been doing the last couple months. Some going to Rural Metro Ambulance. Each bag has 25 hug a bears.”
SACC MAKING MASKS
SACC Pioneers Sherry Daughtry and Mo Ryan have been busy sewing masks. Look at the good looking models they had for their work. Here are a few links if you’d like to try sewing some and a link on how to donate them. Thank you Tucson Police Department!
2019 Projects
Hug-A-Bears 2019 Wrap Up
Holiday Extravaganza Raffle – 2019
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Holiday Extravaganza Raffle! We had so many wonderful donations and were able to raise a large sum for our club. Click on the first photo and you can scroll thru our gallery of images and see all the smiling faces of our winners! Happy Holidays!
Day Of Caring – Oct 2019
Friday for Day of Caring, our Southern AZ Combined Club decorated two meeting rooms for DCS (Department of Child Safety). These are rooms for family to meet for supervised visits, and they needed some cheer. We put up lots of pictures, added throws, books and games, and stuffed animals. One Pioneer went out and bought new stuffed toys to provide in the room. These two rooms took on a new look, and we are hoping they provide a warm and reassuring ambiance for the clients who use them. The volunteers were happy with the results, and hope to do more rooms in the future. Thanks to all who donated, worked on the project, and gathered for a cooperative and fun time. Thank you to our volunteers: Adella Mason, Cathy Greer, Sherry Daughtry, Mo Ryan, Priscilla Lujan, Jan Pitts, and Patti Pace.
Holiday Raffle Wrapping Event
Every year, volunteers gather to organize and wrap all the donations for our holiday extravaganza. This year our hostess Priscilla Lujan did an amazing job by opening her home and providing the supplies we needed to get the job done in one day. Thank you to Bonnie Stahl Bush, Anna Patton, Kathy Kisro and Patti Pace for helping. This years donations and prizes are the best ever! Please check out our upcoming events page or our Facebook page for all the details!
Totes for Good
Anna Patton, Patti Pace, Bobbi Taylor, Kathy Kisro
Today was the first of our Totes for Good Project. We delivered over 100 new totes to the Emerge! Center for Domestic Abuse in Tucson, AZ. This new project by SACC collects both new and gently used totes and donates them to different local organizations who will put them to good use based on their needs. If you would like to help, please contact Anna Patton (520) 444-1874 or email her at AZ66media@gmail.com.
Ronald McDonald House – Chef for a Day
Thank you to all our So AZ Combined Club members for helping with this event.
Marshall Home for Men
Beads of Courage – Day of Service 2019
SATPC has again chosen Beads of Courage for their Day of Service for 2019. Beads of Courage was founded here in Arizona in 2003 by Jean Baruch. Beads of Courage, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization dedicated to helping children with serious illness record, tell and own their stories of survival. They work diligently to transform the treatment experience for children coping with chronic, life threatening illness through their arts-in-medicine programs. In the 12 years since their inception, the organization has established the programs in over 240 children’s hospitals in the United States, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan. Their growth is evidence of the need for the type of support Beads of Courage provides for children coping with serious illness.
Sister Jose Women’s Shelter
Adella Mason (not pictured) and Jan Pitts delivered hygiene and clothing items to Sister Jose.
2018 Projects
Hug-A-Bears
Southern Arizona Telecom Pioneers, Legacy West Hug-a-Bears donated to St. Mary’s Hospital ER then to Pima County Victim Services.. Sherry Daughtry is our head lady of the HUG-A-BEARS..
2018 Projects
Diaper Bank – Oct 2018
SATPC Donation to the Diaper Bank. Ian Arthur presented with $500.00. — with Cathy Greer.
Beads of Courage – Day of Service 2018
SATPC has chosen Beads of Courage for their Day of Service for 2018. Beads of Courage was founded here in Arizona in 2003 by Jean Baruch. Beads of Courage, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization dedicated to helping children with serious illness record, tell and own their stories of survival. They work diligently to transform the treatment experience for children coping with chronic, life threatening illness through their arts-in-medicine programs. In the 11 years since their inception, the organization has established the programs in over 240 children’s hospitals in the United States, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan. Their growth is evidence of the need for the type of support Beads of Courage provides for children coping with serious illness.
Note from Beads of Courage:
“Hi Cathy,
I just wanted to touch base with you and let you know how much I enjoyed teaching your group. You all were so much fun to have around and, of course, all the beads we got from you guys went out almost immediately.
Please say hello to everyone for me and on behalf of Beads of Courage, Thank you.
Best Regards,
Lillian George”
2018 Sister Jose Women’s Center
A gift of 13 shopping carts for carrying the personal belongings of homeless women in Tucson.
2017 Projects
2017 Gospel Rescue Mission – Wreath Creations
Arizona/New Mexico Pioneers 
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