Episode 13: For Our City Chandler. Chandler if full of many great people trying to help those in need. For Our City Chandler is one of the organizations who is trying to pull organizations together to help those in needs like the elderly the poor and the homeless. Niki Tapia is one of the driving forces. Niki is the Community Resources & Diversity Supervisor and one of her jobs is to work with For Our City. In this episode we talk about some of the resources available and how you can help.

1:00 What do you do for the City of Chandler

Works with neighborhood resources
Out in community a lot
Cultural diversity and faith groups
For Our City Chandler helps those in needs

1:46 What is For Our City

Opportunity for those who want to help others
Groups working together to help those in need

2:55 How did you get started with it

There are For Our City's in other cities but Chandler is the benchmark

3:33 How long you been in Chandler

1983
Like the community feel
Know neighbors

4:15 You work with homeless a lot, can you talk about the homeless in Chandler

Nationally increasing
Homeless shelters are in Tempe and Mesa we work with
Churches that take turns hosting 25 people a night
i-help refers the homeless to the locations
Given out over 10,000 fliers and police and others have them
There is a bus that buses to the church each night
Case management to help those with adictions or to get jobs

7:43 Do you think most of the homeless know about i-help?

Think so
At capacity almost every day

8:10 What is the Changeup Campaign?

Pan-handle are they legit or just scamming?
Does the money help or keep people on streets longer?
This goes directly to homeless services
People are generous, this ensures 100% of your donation is helping homeless

10:12 What is the process like to get people off the streets?

Counselors help getting people off i-help
Social service groups help bring food every night
Place to sleep and bag lunch in the morning
If work with case management you are secured a spot

12:40 Operation back to school

A member said we need a one-stop-shop for kids
Backpack drive to ensure not duplicating efforts
Uniforms, shoes, socks and underwear along with backpacks
Student gets about $90 of value
Last year gave out about 2200 backpacks, 9k shoes socks and uniforms

15:22 On your website there are over 30 groups listed

All those are different organizations who help with these programs
City organizes, but groups come together
For Our City Day is in October and do house renovations
Over 700 volunteers

18:30 How can people get involved

ForOurCityChandler on Instagram
ForOurCityChandler on Facebook
Work with code enforcement to help seniors

20:25 What to do in Chandler? - Ostrich Festival in March and anywhere Downtown Chandler

21:25 Favorite downtown restaurants - Downtown Chandler Cafe