December 2025
2025 Save-A-Christmas Shopping Day
Past event
December 2025
For the 2025 event, volunteers rendezvoused at Desert Ridge Marketplace (behind the AMC), then helped pick up children from foster homes in the greater Phoenix area before the group shopping trip. To protect the privacy of the children and host families, individual foster-home locations weren't published.
Same model as prior years on the ground: paired volunteer + child for shopping, gift wrapping, and direct distribution. Donations went directly to the gift budgets.
Day-of schedule
What happens, when
These times are estimates — the schedule shifts with the bus pickup time each year. Volunteers receive the confirmed start time via the BAND group ahead of the event.
- 10:00 AM
- Volunteers arrive at Desert Ridge (behind the AMC) for bus pickup
- 10:15 AM
- Load volunteers onto the bus and head out
- 10:45 AM
- Bus arrives to pick up foster children and pair them with their volunteers
- 11:15 AM
- Arrive at the shopping center — shopping experience begins
- 12:00 PM
- Checkout; load children and volunteers back onto the bus
- 12:15 PM
- Bus returns to the foster homes for a closing prayer and gift delivery
- 12:30 PM
- Group photo; volunteers load back onto the bus
- 1:00 PM
- Bus returns to Desert Ridge — dropoff and farewell
Where
Desert Ridge Marketplace (volunteer rendezvous)
Desert Ridge Marketplace, behind the AMC — Phoenix, AZ
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