By: Nancy Farrington, Phoenix Arizona
Who we are:
The heart of the ToolBank is the tool lending program. Not-for-profit organizations have year-round access to the ToolBank’s inventory of tools and equipment for a nominal fee. ToolBank tools are only available to not-for-profit organizations, such as:
•Nonprofit/Charitable/Tax exempt organizations
•Schools and PTAs/PTOs
•Neighborhood associations
•Faith-based groups
•Civic organizations
•Government agencies
We are proud to say we have loaned $204,148.87 worth of tools (retail value), equipped 17,203 volunteers and supported 360 projects since we opened our warehouse last April.
Here are some projects we have supported:
• renovated a local Boys and Girls Club
• planted a community garden in Guadalupe for a youth prevention program
• assembled over 600 bikes by COX Communications employees that were given away during the holiday season to a local school that they adopt
• assembled furniture for a new program at Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development
• built bookcase and benches for UMOM housing campus
Phoenix Community ToolBank’s impact in fast forward- check out the time lapse video of Phoenix Collegiate Academy Charter School’s KaBOOM! build for their new elementary school. This was Phx ToolBank’s first “BIG” official loan. PCA borrowed $6,439.00 worth of #bluetools to create a safe place for their new students to play, imagine and grow- oh and have FUN, as kids should have that opportunity too. We wish they would have installed a smile counter, but we bet it is over a million and growing every hour!
ToolBank tools are inexpensive, convenient, and fully functional, maximizing agencies’ financial and human resources and empowering them to improve community engagement and to achieve greater impact for those they serve. From generators and circular saws to hammers and rakes, the Phoenix ToolBank is equipping volunteers in support of our community.
If you are interested in learning more and seeing our 10,000 sq foot warehouse, please let us know! You can learn more and tour our warehouse by contacting our executive director, Jana Smith.