St. Mary’s offering charitable tax credits

VALLEY – St. Mary’s/Westside Food Bank Alliance is among a select number of Arizona non‑profits where donors qualify for a dollar‑for‑

dollar Arizona tax credit, according to a news release from the charity.

“For every dollar donated to the Food Bank in 2006 (up to $200 for single and unmarried heads of household and up to $400 for married couples filing jointly), contributors receive a charitable tax credit of a dollar,” the charity announced.

St. Mary’s/Westside Food Bank Alliance devotes almost all of its budget (96%) to serving low income Arizona residents.

To take advantage of the Charitable Tax Credit, a taxpayer must itemize deductions and deduct charitable contributions on their Arizona state income tax return at least once after 1995 in order to establish a baseline year and amount.

Taxpayers must file Arizona Form 321 with their state tax return to claim the credit. A donation to St. Mary’s/Westside Food Bank Alliance must be made by Dec.31 in order to apply the contribution to a person’s 2006 taxes.

To make a donation to the Food Bank, call (602) 343‑3144 or make a secure online donation, visit www.firstfoodbank.org.

Charity drive nets hundreds of toys for needy kids

The Scottsdale Fire Department collected nearly 275 toys and gave 150 rides to kids in its second annual holiday “Rides for Toys” event that was held on  Dec. 9, according to a news release from the department.

Each child who donated a new, unwrapped toy was given a free ride on a Scottsdale Fire engine.

Firefighters presented the toys to the Paiute Neighborhood Center, a south Scottsdale community center that assists underprivileged children and teens. More than 60 percent of the families served by the Paiute Center have an income under $15,000, and many of the children would not receive a gift for the holidays without programs such as Rides for Toys. The event was held from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot outside Wal‑Mart, 15355 N. Northsight Blvd. in Scottsdale.