Program areas at OTM
Old Town Mission Resource Center is located at 116 E. Pinal Street in Cottonwood, AZ. We provide a range of free person-centered programs and services to people facing economic disadvantages or financial hardships in the Verde Valley region of Arizona.(1) Client-choice food pantry with perishable and nonperishable foods, including an assortment of canned foods, pasta, rice, beans, breakfast items, bread, desserts, frozen foods, meats, poultry, fish, dairy products, juice and other beverages, and fresh produce. Once each week, clients can select foods based on personal preference. The Mission also facilitates The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal program that provides an additional food resource to people with low incomes. TEFAP boxes contain non-perishable items and are distributed during the first week of each month, as needed, while supplies last, and in addition to the pantry groceries. The food pantry is open Wednesdays from 9 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm and Thursdays from 9 am to 2 pm. Eligibility is based on income and guidelines from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Our regular grocery recovery activities benefit all food-related programs at the Mission and involve rescuing surplus or near-expiration foods donated by local stores and restaurants.(2) Community meals are nutritionally balanced, freshly prepared meals that include lunch served on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, dinner served on Monday from 5 pm to 6 pm, and to-go dinner provided on Wednesday from 4 pm to 6 pm. Meals are free to anyone in need. (3) Resources for people experiencing homelessness include free showers; personal hygiene supplies; essential clothing, including underwear and socks; survival items; safety supplies; breakfast items; sack lunches; and referrals to other community resources for help with shelter, healthcare, job training, housing, counseling, pregnancy, and support services for substance abuse, mental health care, and trauma. (4) Community resources include a range of practical resources for people who are struggling to make ends meet. Free services available to anyone in need include Cuts for Free (salon-quality haircuts), the Kids Shop (clothing, toys, books, baby items, etc. for children from newborn to preteen), Community Clothing Closet (clothes for work-readiness), Legal Advice (about issues related to housing, employment, justice involvement, public benefits, debt management, elder abuse, healthcare, and more), and Vision Care Assistance (eye exams and eyewear). (5) Community outreach efforts help address specific community needs and facilitate SNAP outreach. Annual events include Operation Back to School (free backpacks and school supplies), the Great Turkey Giveaway (a holiday-sized meal for families to prepare at home), Gift of Warmth (free clothing and outerwear for winter weather), and Christmas Celebrations (hot cocoa, a visit with Santa, and a fun family activity).
Old Town Mission Thrift Store is located at 810 W. Mingus Avenue in Cottonwood, AZ. Store hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm. The Store was established to help fund the Missions free programs, to provide quality goods at affordable prices for our community, and to provide community members with employment opportunities and a steady income source. Our Second-Chance Employment program helps people overcome employment barriers like justice involvement, aging, technology challenges, childcare issues, etc. The Hope Voucher program provides free furniture and housewares for people transitioning from homelessness or recovering from emergencies such as a house fire or flooding. The Thrift Store relies on donations of usable goods for resale. When people donate goods or purchase items, they directly benefit neighbors in need. Thrift Store proceeds help fund operational costs required to provide free programs and services at the Thrift Store and the Resource Center.