Pre-Arrival Information for TBYAVs
Hi! Alison the TBYAV Site Coordinator here.
There's lots of information that will be useful for you on this webpage. Please reach out to me anytime if you have questions or wonderings about other things! I'll be in touch over the coming weeks to get you set up with community partner interviews.
Please pay particular attention to the fundraising section, where I ask you to take some actions and send me some things. There is also a guide to get you started with your fundraising.
The TBYAV Board of Directors and I can't wait for you to arrive in August. Hope you're excited too! -alison
There's lots of information that will be useful for you on this webpage. Please reach out to me anytime if you have questions or wonderings about other things! I'll be in touch over the coming weeks to get you set up with community partner interviews.
Please pay particular attention to the fundraising section, where I ask you to take some actions and send me some things. There is also a guide to get you started with your fundraising.
The TBYAV Board of Directors and I can't wait for you to arrive in August. Hope you're excited too! -alison
Binational Programming
You will need a passport or passport card that is valid through the end of your YAV year (August 2023). A passport costs $110 for first time applicants; a passport card is good only for travel to Canada and Mexico (which is good enough for us!) and costs $30. Either document will generally take at least 6-8 weeks to receive, so don’t wait till the last minute to apply! We will travel to Mexico several times during our year. If the cost of a passport card presents a financial barrier, we can work out a solution.
Communication
Alison's cell phone number is (520) 355-4928. Feel free to call or text during business hours if urgent questions or challenges come up before your arrival in Tucson. I am generally available via phone Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm Arizona time. For non-urgent questions or concerns, you can email me -- [email protected]. Please pay attention to your email over the summer; email tends to be my preferred mode of communication. How do you prefer to communicate? Let me know!
Fund Raising & Community Support
Here on the ground, more than 40% of the Tucson Site budget depends on your fundraising efforts. The YAV program requires a $4,000 fundraising minimum for each volunteer. Every dollar you raise over that minimum goes directly to support the site, and to help meet your community fundraising goal.
IMPORTANT LOGISTICS: Please do not use the ECO accounts offered to you by the National YAV office as they charge 17% in administrative fees and require paperwork for funds to be released to sites. Ask your supporters to send funds directly to the Tucson Borderlands YAV office:
Tucson Borderlands YAV
400 E University
Tucson, AZ 85705
Checks can be made out to: Tucson Borderlands YAV
I will also set up a personalized online donation page for you. Click here to submit the information I need to create your personal donation page.
Click here for encouragement and tips on fundraising - including how we suggest you get started.
I will let you know when you receive donations. You are responsible for sending a personal thank you note to each person who donates throughout your year of service. Remember that people who support you financially aren't just making a donation, they're becoming your partners in mission!
National Orientation
You will receive information from the National Office about YAV orientation in August. If you have questions or concerns about National Orientation, please reach out to Bridgette Lewis. I will meet you at the airport (with great enthusiasm!) when you arrive in Tucson.
Student Loan Repayment Assistance (@ALISON UPDATE WITH INFO FROM MELONEE)
The Season of Service Loan Assistance (SSLA) program is available to YAVs to help pay student loans. “Participants may receive up to $250 of assistance with student loan payments for up to 12 months while the applicant is in service.” My recommendation is that you apply for deferment for your loans for your YAV year, AND apply for SSLA to pay down the principal of your loan while you serve. This can give you a head start on paying off your loans. Visit A SITE OF SOME KIND TO FIND OUT MORE. The folks at SSLA are very supportive of YAVs and want to give you money. If you’re interested in this program, apply as soon as you can!
Transportation
Your primary mode of transportation in Tucson will be either your bicycle or the public bus. Even if you decide to primarily move around town via the bus (or your feet), we’ll still make sure everyone has a bike they can comfortably ride to keep that option available. Each volunteer has a bike fund of up to $400. That money can either go toward shipping your bike to and from Tucson or toward purchasing a new bike at a local Tucson shop. If you have a bike that you want to ship to Tucson to use during your year of service, please let me know before July 1. If you decide to use the bus as your primary form of transportation, the program will buy your monthly bus pass. You will be asked to complete an application for "low-income status" so you are eligible for reduced fares.
Packing
Tucson is a desert climate. Summer highs can reach 115 +; while winter mornings and evenings can drop below freezing. Most winter days warm up from the 30s at night to the 50's / 60s, so layering for warmth in the morning and shedding for comfort through the day is a good strategy.
The YAV house is fully furnished, will kitchen items, dishes, linens, pillows, towels, etc. You don’t need to pack anything for the house unless it’s something you particularly want.
Please see the following packing suggestions:
Sun protection
Winter months
Retreats / Camping
Miscellaneous
You are committing to living simply this year. This means different things to different people, so pack according to your understanding. We will discuss how we work this concept into house life during our local orientation. During our first week together we will also develop a covenant that will guide house life. Topics to be considering as you prepare this summer might include house cleaning / chores, spiritual disciplines, intentional community time, quiet hours, food ethics and shared community funds.
You will need a passport or passport card that is valid through the end of your YAV year (August 2023). A passport costs $110 for first time applicants; a passport card is good only for travel to Canada and Mexico (which is good enough for us!) and costs $30. Either document will generally take at least 6-8 weeks to receive, so don’t wait till the last minute to apply! We will travel to Mexico several times during our year. If the cost of a passport card presents a financial barrier, we can work out a solution.
Communication
Alison's cell phone number is (520) 355-4928. Feel free to call or text during business hours if urgent questions or challenges come up before your arrival in Tucson. I am generally available via phone Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm Arizona time. For non-urgent questions or concerns, you can email me -- [email protected]. Please pay attention to your email over the summer; email tends to be my preferred mode of communication. How do you prefer to communicate? Let me know!
Fund Raising & Community Support
Here on the ground, more than 40% of the Tucson Site budget depends on your fundraising efforts. The YAV program requires a $4,000 fundraising minimum for each volunteer. Every dollar you raise over that minimum goes directly to support the site, and to help meet your community fundraising goal.
IMPORTANT LOGISTICS: Please do not use the ECO accounts offered to you by the National YAV office as they charge 17% in administrative fees and require paperwork for funds to be released to sites. Ask your supporters to send funds directly to the Tucson Borderlands YAV office:
Tucson Borderlands YAV
400 E University
Tucson, AZ 85705
Checks can be made out to: Tucson Borderlands YAV
I will also set up a personalized online donation page for you. Click here to submit the information I need to create your personal donation page.
Click here for encouragement and tips on fundraising - including how we suggest you get started.
I will let you know when you receive donations. You are responsible for sending a personal thank you note to each person who donates throughout your year of service. Remember that people who support you financially aren't just making a donation, they're becoming your partners in mission!
National Orientation
You will receive information from the National Office about YAV orientation in August. If you have questions or concerns about National Orientation, please reach out to Bridgette Lewis. I will meet you at the airport (with great enthusiasm!) when you arrive in Tucson.
Student Loan Repayment Assistance (@ALISON UPDATE WITH INFO FROM MELONEE)
The Season of Service Loan Assistance (SSLA) program is available to YAVs to help pay student loans. “Participants may receive up to $250 of assistance with student loan payments for up to 12 months while the applicant is in service.” My recommendation is that you apply for deferment for your loans for your YAV year, AND apply for SSLA to pay down the principal of your loan while you serve. This can give you a head start on paying off your loans. Visit A SITE OF SOME KIND TO FIND OUT MORE. The folks at SSLA are very supportive of YAVs and want to give you money. If you’re interested in this program, apply as soon as you can!
Transportation
Your primary mode of transportation in Tucson will be either your bicycle or the public bus. Even if you decide to primarily move around town via the bus (or your feet), we’ll still make sure everyone has a bike they can comfortably ride to keep that option available. Each volunteer has a bike fund of up to $400. That money can either go toward shipping your bike to and from Tucson or toward purchasing a new bike at a local Tucson shop. If you have a bike that you want to ship to Tucson to use during your year of service, please let me know before July 1. If you decide to use the bus as your primary form of transportation, the program will buy your monthly bus pass. You will be asked to complete an application for "low-income status" so you are eligible for reduced fares.
Packing
Tucson is a desert climate. Summer highs can reach 115 +; while winter mornings and evenings can drop below freezing. Most winter days warm up from the 30s at night to the 50's / 60s, so layering for warmth in the morning and shedding for comfort through the day is a good strategy.
The YAV house is fully furnished, will kitchen items, dishes, linens, pillows, towels, etc. You don’t need to pack anything for the house unless it’s something you particularly want.
Please see the following packing suggestions:
Sun protection
- light-weight long sleeve shirts with collars
- light-weight long pants
- broad brimmed hat, sun hat or ball cap
- sunglasses
Winter months
- warm winter jacket
- gloves or mittens
- warm hat
- scarf
- long underwear
- warm socks
Retreats / Camping
- comfortable closed toe shoes or hiking boots
- sandals, flip-flops, or chacos
- sleeping bag and sleeping pad (if you have one; if you don’t have these items, you can borrow from the YAV house)
- flashlight or headlamp
Miscellaneous
- Water bottle
- Portable musical instruments
- favorite books
- Laptop if one is available to you
- favorite table games
- Bible
- Journal and writing utensils
- Backpack (it’s useful to have a backpack for carrying things while you bike)
You are committing to living simply this year. This means different things to different people, so pack according to your understanding. We will discuss how we work this concept into house life during our local orientation. During our first week together we will also develop a covenant that will guide house life. Topics to be considering as you prepare this summer might include house cleaning / chores, spiritual disciplines, intentional community time, quiet hours, food ethics and shared community funds.
More Information
There's a lot more information and details in our local Volunteer Handbook. Feel free to download it and look over it anytime. When you arrive in Tucson you'll also be provided with a hard copy to refer back to, and we'll spend some time during local orientation talking through the handbook together. Click here to download the TBYAV Volunteer Handbook.
There's a lot more information and details in our local Volunteer Handbook. Feel free to download it and look over it anytime. When you arrive in Tucson you'll also be provided with a hard copy to refer back to, and we'll spend some time during local orientation talking through the handbook together. Click here to download the TBYAV Volunteer Handbook.
