When one Chandler teenager imagined her Sweet 16 birthday, she imagined spending it the same way she has spent many Sundays in the past seven years — with the homeless friends she served in the parking lot in downtown Phoenix.

ASU's class of 2013 will get their diplomas this week in Tempe and at least one of the graduates will be a little older than the rest.

“Mesa judge Markel [Mark] Chiles was issued a citation for shoplifting recently. Will another judge give him the six months in jail and $2,500 fine just to set the punishment at a level others could receive? Watch for a slap on the wrist.”

“Mesa judge Markel [Mark] Chiles was issued a citation for shoplifting recently. Will another judge give him the six months in jail and $2,500 fine just to set the punishment at a level others could receive? Watch for a slap on the wrist.”

“The richest American company Apple is going to borrow billions & billions to run the company, probably from themselves because you don’t have to pay taxes on borrowed money. While a venter worries about the homeless defecating and urinating in Mesa. When is congress going to stop these wealthy corporations from defecating and urinating on America.”

“I don’t know why everyone is complaining that the Gilbert school board cut salaries, eliminated the teachers’ voices from negotiations, and secured all the power of decision making for themselves. After all, this strategy has worked very successfully in Communist Russia, Nazi Germany, and... and... oh wait... maybe there IS a problem here!”

“When is the City of Mesa going to do something about the homeless downtown? They defecate and urinate in doorways of business and walking downtown is not a pleasant experience. It used to be a nice place, but that has changed.”

Valley of the Sun United Way and Mesa United Way are partnering for a special Project Connect event April 11 at Broadway Christian Church, 7335 E. Broadway Road, Mesa.

Valley of the Sun United Way and Mesa United Way will join together this week for the fifth Project Connect event held in the City of Mesa since 2009. It is an effort to prevent and end homelessness in the community.

Mesa Mayor Scott Smith spoke honestly with United Food Bank President Bob Evans on Wednesday.

Because of the actions of two Paz de Cristo Community Center employees and the quick response of Mesa and Tempe fire departments, the facility that serves as a food bank, social services center and dining hall for the homeless and working poor was spared major damage when flames broke out last week.

Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) will have a “Spring into Adoption” event March 29, 30 and 31 at the all MCACC locations.

What should lawmakers be working on, really?

According to the Government Accountability Office, the federal government operates 50 different programs for the homeless. There are 23 programs in housing, 26 for food and nutrition, 130 for at-risk youth. They also operate an astounding 342 programs for economic development, which government is notoriously bad at anyway.

Today, nearly 850 nonprofits statewide have joined with the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits (Alliance) and Arizona Grantmakers Forum to participate in the first-ever Arizona Gives Day.

Mesa’s Ross Farnsworth spent several decades as chairman and CEO of various Farnsworth Companies developing land and real estate projects, driven by his desire to help people and the community he loved.

If you liked "The Hangover" but felt like it needed more projectile vomit, stampeding buffaloes and naughty sorority pledges being spanked, then "21 & Over" is the feel-good, feel-bad movie for you.

In an effort to curb unwanted panhandling and aggressive solicitation in high-traffic areas – including, notably, Mill Avenue, near Arizona State University – the Tempe City Council approved amendments to two sections of its city code Thursday night.

Without a place to live, and carrying little more than a small bag of clothes, Jennifer Allanson rode the free Orbit bus in Tempe, unsure of where she would turn to next.

Gilbert is having its 11th annual Pet Food and Supply Drive to help homeless pets as they await adoption into permanent homes.

The City of Mesa is among local municipalities looking for volunteers to literally hit the streets to help the less fortunate this month.

Assistance League of East Valley collected 635 books during a Children's Book Drive in support of volunteerism on Make a Difference Day on Oct. 27. The books have been donated to Children First Academy for homeless children, Head Start programs in the Tempe Elementary District, a rural school where many children's parents are incarcerated and Adams Elementary in Mesa.

Attention pet lovers: How would you like to help homeless cats, dogs, puppies and kittens find a family and permanent home? The Arizona Animal Welfare League is seeking volunteers with retail and customer service skills to help out at its adoption site in Chandler Fashion Center.