Saturday, December 5, 2026 (expected — first Saturday convention)
2026 Save-A-Christmas Shopping Day
Planned
Date to be announced
The annual Save-A-Christmas event pairs each supported foster child with a one-on-one volunteer for a group shopping trip. The day has been running every December since 1996.
We expect to run it on the first Saturday of December (Dec 5, 2026) following the same pattern as recent years: bus pickup at Desert Ridge Marketplace, foster-home stops across the greater Phoenix area, group shopping, and gift delivery back at the homes before returning to Desert Ridge.
Dates and exact start time will be announced via the BAND group and on this page. Meanwhile, the campaign is open for donations — every dollar goes directly to the children's 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
Open in Google MapsWant a heads-up when details land?
RSVP via the BAND app group so we have an accurate volunteer count, and consider supporting the campaign so we have full gift budgets for every child.