The Desert Ridge® Parents’ Group (DRPG) is a fun-filled organization for parents and children in the North phoenix area. All families in the Desert Ridge® community are invited to check out our activities and events! Founded in 1997, the not-for-profit Desert Ridge® Parents’ Group (DRPG) hosts weekly playgroups, monthly kids’ and family activities, seasonal events and parents-only nights for residents in Desert Ridge and surrounding areas. Membership dues are only $30 per year.
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
By Amber Roelofs
Since its inception in 1997, DRPG has made philanthropy an essential element of our core values. We are constantly looking for ways to better our community and help families in need. Year-round we are on the lookout for ways to give back. We have done everything from food donations to book drives. Every year we do a Children’s Halloween Costume Parade at the Phoenix Mountain Nursing Center. The children come dressed in their costumes and do a parade around the facility to spread cheer for the elderly residents. Many residents of nursing homes don’t have regular visitors, or any visitors at all, and this is an occasion when they can see and connect with many happy faces.
The holiday season is a good time to start thinking about helping other people. Giving warmth, love and hope. That’s what the holiday season should be all about. A time to share our good fortune with our neighbors in need. Adopt-a-family programs are a particularly powerful way to get children and families engaged in community outreach, and a great way to show our neighbors that we care. Over the holidays we adopt two or more families. DRPG donates gift cards for a hearty holiday meal, we adopt each family member, from kids to parents. We believe that it is important for every member of the family to receive something! Typically, we receive a Holiday List from the organization for each family member. Together, our DRPG families gather all of the items and then add a few additional “surprises.” We hand deliver the presents and are able to see the smile on their faces when we help give them a bit more joy for the holidays.
We also believe it is of utmost importance to teach our children kindness, compassion and cultivate their social conscience. Some children may not even realize there are children out there who don’t have the same good fortune as them. The best strategy to advance their humanitarianism is to get the kids involved. In helping with school drives, “adopted families,” volunteering, and our consistent attention to philanthropic endeavors, we give our children good examples and opportunities for them to see what giving with grace really means.
Our collective power can really make a difference. Through our organization we have a giving tradition that makes our members look forward to every holiday season knowing we are nurturing our community and supporting families in need. We also host many great events for parents and children throughout the season including fun crafts, holiday parties, and weekly play groups.
If you are interested in hearing more about DRPG and joining in on the fun…visit us at http://DRPGonline.com. Our annual dues are only $30 per year, per family! You can also follow us on Facebook at: Desert Ridge Parents’ Group.
