Located in Mesa, Ariz., the Community Asset & Resource Enterprise (CARE) was established by neighborhood resident Bev Tittle-Baker to make the area safer for families. Bev sought a way to provide comfort amidst gang and drug violence.
What started in 1994 as an afterschool program has become so much more. CARE Campus is now a community center providing myriad wellness, educational and primary health services and activities. And none of that could be accomplished without volunteers like Cindy Salvucci.
A Passion for Serving Others
Cindy has always been involved with helping vulnerable populations. In 1977, Cindy graduated college with a bachelor’s in social work (BSW) and later obtained a master’s in social work (MSW).
Before moving to Arizona, Cindy spent almost 20 years working as a medical social worker in residential psychiatric and developmental disabilities facilities. She also worked in inpatient and outpatient units of university medical hospitals.
Upon moving to Arizona, Cindy decided to take time off to be a stay-at-home parent. In that time, she completed two years of Spanish language coursework at Maricopa Community College, which has been a tremendous help to this day.
A Volunteer Opportunity Forges Lifelong Friendships
Cindy then decided to volunteer in a clinic as a medical social worker. She had two potential sites in mind, one of them being CARE. She planned to visit both locations to see where she could best apply her skills.
During Cindy’s first visit with Bev Tittle-Baker, Bev made quite the impression. She told Cindy that she did not need to visit the other site because CARE needed her! This was enough for Cindy to know that she was where she was supposed to be.
From 1996-2000, Cindy volunteered as a social worker in CARE’s Clinic for Uninsured Children. Even after she returned to the workforce as a home health and hospice social worker, she remained in active contact with CARE staff and volunteered intermittently.
The Heart and Soul of CARE
After Bev passed away in 2018, Gloria Gomez Torres continued Bev’s legacy with the help of Catholic Charities. Gloria has been a major force behind CARE since the beginning and was an original participant in the afterschool program.
Throughout her years of volunteering at CARE, Cindy developed a great respect and admiration for Gloria’s dedication and hard work in serving the community. “What can I say...Gloria is the heart and soul of CARE,” said Cindy.
Returning to CARE
Upon retirement, Cindy contacted Gloria and returned to CARE Campus in 2023 as a volunteer. She organized and researched additional resources for people in need of shelter, food boxes, healthcare and more.
In addition to helping in the office, Cindy offers much support to the Emergency Santa program. This event, held between October and December, makes Christmas special for more than 600 children every year. It helps parents receive Christmas gifts for their children in exchange for completing one hour of volunteer work per child.
If you’d like to support CARE Campus or its Emergency Santa program, consider donating needed items through our Amazon Charity Lists.
