The Groves Neighborhood is partnering with City of Mesa Neighborhood Outreach for a volunteer-driven citrus collection from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 23. Residents can donate the extra fruit as part of a citywide effort to benefit the United Food Bank.

The phrase “Christmas in July” often signals a sale.

Due to generous contributions from Gilbert Unified School District's Boulder Creek Elementary School community, Sunland Village Retirement Community, and the Gilbert Fire Department, teacher Tina Wenning and the local community were able to provide assistance to 91 children in 25 families during the holiday season.

Donations are still being accepted for the United Food Bank at Gilbert town facilities. Employees are collecting non-perishable items during the month of June.

The annual Boy Scouts food drive brought in 45 percent more food to United Food Bank this year, according to food bank officials.

Mitch Olson: As the resource development assistant at the Mesa United Food Bank, Melissa Forrester explained this charity often comes up short in many months of the year: "We have averaged 72 food drives per month this year. In reality, the majority of the food drives are held during the holidays. Of the 655 food drives held so far this year, 381 were held during November and December."

Queen Creek's Apple Dumpling Café is continuing to collect canned food items for local food assistance programs that are in need.

There will be an army in your neighborhood this weekend, dressed in blue or green uniforms, going door-to-door and asking everyone to do their part.

Banner Boswell Medical Center will sponsor a holiday food drive this month to support Banner Olive Branch Senior Center’s community pantry.

Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at the hospital, located at 10401 W. Thunderbird Blvd. in Sun City, from Dec. 6 through Dec. 23 at the following bin locations: Banner Boswell’s Main and South entrances; Banner Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 W. Santa Fe Drive; and Banner Boswell Rehabilitation Center, 10601 W. Santa Fe Drive.

On Monday , Mesa will launch its annual water campaign, officially known as the “Hydration Donation Campaign.”

Boy Scout Troop 14 and Cub Scout Pack 278, as well as. other Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops throughout the valley, are once again participating in the annual Scouting for Food event on Saturday, Feb. 5. You may see flyers hanging on doors throughout your neighborhood the week prior asking for contributions. If you are able to donate non-perishable food items, simply place the items out for collection on the morning of Feb. 5th and the boys will collect the items which will then be donated to local food banks.

Boy Scout Troop 14 and Cub Scout Pack 278, as well as. other Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops throughout the valley, are once again participating in the annual Scouting for Food event on Saturday, Feb. 5. You may see flyers hanging on doors throughout your neighborhood the week prior asking for contributions. If you are able to donate non-perishable food items, simply place the items out for collection on the morning of Feb. 5th and the boys will collect the items which will then be donated to local food banks.

It's the Gilbertians vs. the Chandlerlites, but the victors will be families in both communities.

Chandler’s Hartford Sylvia Encinas Elementary, 700 N. Hartford St., is asking the community to support families in need by bringing in bags of rice. The school needs 900 bags by Friday for Thanksgiving and 900 more for Christmas, due Dec. 10. The efforts are being coordinated by Chandler Unified School District’s Chandler Care Center, 777 E. Galveston St. Donations of toiletry items, such as diapers, baby wipes, toothbrushes, tooth paste, paper towels, and toilet paper, are also needed.

Bashas', Food City and AJ's grocery stores in Arizona are collecting donations at cash registers to help victims of the Wallow Fire. The partnership with The Salvation Army will feed evacuees in shelters.

The act of giving clearly doesn’t go out of style.