b'Food and water are not the onlyDesert Missions Adult Day scarcities for at-risk families andHealth Care program plays a children. Development opportunitiescritical role in the continuum are also in high demand of aging. It allows frail elders, opportunities such as early childhoodmost with cognitive or physical education and adult enrichmentimpairments, to remain living for special needs seniors who liveindependently in the community, at home with their loved ones, for with the core family unit. This isYour Generosityas long as possible.where scholarships play a key roleEnabled in ensuring children and seniors getThe two days my husband the additional care and developmentDesert Missionspends at the center are the they need to live full lives. best days of the week for both of to Provide: us, remarks Barbara, a Desert Lincoln Learning Center is a licensedMission Adult Day Health Care childcare and early education15,367 client. He is always talkative program accredited by the Nationalemergency food boxesand animated after attending. Association for the Education of YoungHis mood is happier and his Children. This program gives children a solid groundwork for academic6,522 feelings of value increased. He success by providing learninghouseholds with food looks forward to Wednesdays opportunities for children from 6(many served multiple times) and Fridays despite his having weeks to 12 years of age. It is one ofto wake up earlier than usual. Believe me, his willingness to get the few schools in Arizona to meet the3,213 up before 10:30 am is a huge nations highest standards for childfederally funded emergency accomplishment and a sincere development and school readiness.food boxes, supplemented withcompliment to Desert Missions Scholarships are critical for low- items from the food bank, for staff and program.income families during summerlow-income seniorsThis critical program provides months to help offset the costs of a271 up to $15,000 annually for longer school day and programmingchildren at Lincoln Learninggap-scholarships to welcome schedule at Lincoln Learning Center.Center with 98 percent ofvulnerable families into their Summer tuition is $220 per week topre-K graduates assessed ascommunity of care. This cover programming and meals forKindergarten-ready temporary assistance provides each child but even this modest cost isfamilies in crisis with a helping too much for many families who want a48 hand to ease the transition structured, safe learning environmentDaily clients at Adult Day to caring for an ailing parent. for their children. The averageHealth Care, 27 percent of Nearly 90 percent are living with scholarship is $728 per family. But thewhom are veterans dementia or Alzheimers disease needs outpace donations. and cannot be alone when family My husband and I cant stressFor calendar year 2021 members are working.enough the warm, welcoming, lovingWeathering the storm of these and compassionate environmentchallenging times as a community that Lincoln Learning Center teachers create in theirand offering independence and kindness to others classroom, conveys a grateful Desert Mission client. Asthrough philanthropy serves as a great reminder of parents of triplets, the first few weeks of our enrollmentthe humble beginnings of Desert Mission.were difficult. Lincoln Learning Center teachers worked with each child to help them understand that theDesert Mission was built upon a foundation of classroom was a fun, accepting and safe home-away- caring neighbors building a kind community over from-home for them. As we have seen, each of the three95 years ago, recalls Sue. It continues to uplift lives children has excelled over the year and three monthstoday because of the active generosity and willing they were in preschool. service to others so universal across the Valley.HonorHealth Foundation Magazine 15'