April 30, 2020
#FeelGoodFriday
Now, more than ever, we need to hear about some positivity happening throughout our community! Please enjoy our weekly blog series, #FeelGoodFriday, to spread some happiness while we get through this together!
May 15, 2020
2020 Graduations
Way to go to all the new 2020 grads! Visit Mesa wants to send our congratulations to all our new Mesa graduates, by sending them a grad gift! Tag us in your graduation pics on social media to receive some Visit Mesa swag! (While supplies last!)
Mesa United Way Island Party Zoom
Grab your favorite tropical drink and best island wear then join us for a fun night featuring music by Jeff Ocheltree Music, raffle prizes, interactive games, and more! 🌴•All proceeds will benefit aging-out foster youth at Foster360. 💰To register and to purchase raffle tickets
2020 Mayor’s Youth Committee graduation
Congratulations to the 2020 Mayor’s Youth Committee (MYC) graduates! This year, 21 juniors and seniors from public and charter high schools throughout Mesa completed the program that began in September. MYC is made up of an elect group of students nominated by their school principals and counselors to participate in the competitive application process.
Mesa Artist Creates a Drive By Art Show
With long, uninterrupted hours to be creative, many area artists are using the unexpected free time to appeal to their muses. Therosia Reynolds, a professional artist who resides at Mesa Artspace Lofts, an affordable housing complex in downtown Mesa, created a drive-by art show in the art gallery within the complex. The gallery is closed, but Reynolds has positioned the artwork high above the floor, making it possible to drive by and view her work without leaving a vehicle.
Chinese American group donated 7K masks to Mesa
The Chinese American COVID-19 Relief AZ group donated 5,000 surgical masks to Mesa police officers and an additional 2,000 to firefighters during a special ceremony held Tuesday at police headquarters.
Salvation Army helps Mesa senior community
A senior community in Mesa has banded together with The Salvation Army to deliver hot meals to residents unable to venture out of self-quarantine. The Salvation Army delivers as many as 60 meals a day. Each meal comes around noon and when they arrive, community members help distribute them to different homes.
May 8, 2020
For The Love Of Mesa Music Video
We've launched our new music video this week! The song was produced and performed by local artists, and the photos featured in the video were submitted by Mesa locals during our For The Love Of Mesa photo sharing campaign. This video serves as a love letter from Mesa to Mesa. We hope you enjoy it and keep the music playing!
United Food Bank at Mesa Convention Center
Our friend, and local photographer Ivan Martinez heard about the United Food Bank Food Distribution event at the Mesa Convention Center on March 27, and wanted to use his talents to recognize the United Food Bank and the many volunteers that are helping feed many in need.
Golfland Sunsplash Blood Drive
On Friday, May 1st Golfland Sunsplash turned their laser tag arena into a make shift blood donation center for Vitalant. About 100 people donated in exchange for a Sunsplash ticket!
Dobson Ranch Yacht Club
The Dobson Ranch Yacht Club recently had a boat parade to honor First Responders — Police, Fire and Healthcare Professionals. Gratitude was also express to grocery store employees, pharmacists, truck drivers and all other essential workers.
Food Boxes for Mesa Citizens
Hohokam Stadium Manager Mark Gallo and Eagles Community Center Programmer Katie Paul, put together food boxes for the City of Mesa citizens.
May 1, 2020
100th Birthday Classic Car Parade for Veteran
Nick, a Pearl Harbor veteran celebrated turning 100 with a parade of classic cars! Mesa Mayor John Giles participated in wishing Nick a Happy Birthday!
Worth Takeaway Participates in #CardsCarryOut
Worth Takeaway, a downtown Mesa sandwich staple, provided food to healthcare workers at Banner Desert!
Mother Lode Mercantile Donates Fudge
Motherlode Mercantile delivered 17 trays of their delicious homemade fudge to Banner hospitals across the city!
April 24, 2020
National Park Week
It's National Park Week! What better way than to celebrate with the online junior ranger program! Kid's can do activities and virtual tours of the national parks from the comfort of home! Check out the program here.
The City of Mesa teamed up with For Our City-Mesa to launch an Adopt-A-Grandparent program. For Our City-Mesa is a network of leaders who work to create solutions for the community. Right now, they are available to help seniors in the community who need food delivered, medication picked up or other errands they need to be done during the COVID-19 pandemic. Send an email;to get involved!
Birthday Parade
Mark Gallo, Recreation Supervisor for the City of Mesa for over 30 years celebrated his 60th birthday in a big way! Dozens of cars lined his street in his Mesa neighborhood to wish him happy birthday!
Goat Yoga Zoom Parties
Our friends at Arizona Goat Yoga are hosting free zoom parties for teachers! They will take students on a virtual tour of the farm and interact with all of the animals! This is a great learning tool for teachers who are looking for new ways to engage students with farm animals! You can also check out their virtual tour on our blog, here.
April 17, 2020
By the locals for the locals! Join Visit Mesa as we kick off an epic photo sharing campaign to celebrate all things MESA during these extraordinary times. Post your pics for a chance to be featured in our upcoming music video during National Travel & Tourism Week. We are picking a winner each week and sending them our State 48 t-shirt designed exclusively for Visit Mesa. So get to sharing why you love Mesa, For the Love of Mesa!
Over the past 3 weeks, Salad and Go has given away about $200,000 in salads and breakfast burritos to healthcare workers, first responders, grocery store workers, retail workers, truck drivers, warehouse and manufacturing workers, farmers, childcare workers, teachers and many more. 🙌 This was their way of not only thanking some of those working selflessly on the frontlines of this crisis but to also lend support to those who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19.
A Mesa girl is bringing her neighborhood together through art. She started putting up her own art on a wall and posted a sign saying her neighbors should do the same.
Drive-in Movies at Schnepf Farms
Load up the car with snacks and head to Schnepf Farms for a flick! Every Thurs-Sun they will be showing movies on a big screen. Thursday and Saturday nights will have films for the whole family, Fridays are date night movies, and Sunday will be the classics. Click here to purchase tickets.
Oakwood is a cognitive learning center for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s. While they are closed, they have been offering classes online free of charge. These classes consist of art workshops and cognitive enrichment courses.
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Theres been a new addition to the castle! A filly was born at Chapel Creek Ranch Nursery. And Medieval Times is hosting a contest to name this future star of the show!
April 10, 2020
In an unprecedented time, the community is in need of safe and fun entertainment. Arizona’s only drive-in movie venue is born. Located at the Loop 202 and Alma School Road in Mesa, Digital Drive-In AZ is a blast from the past with fantastic showings. Experience state-of-the-art digital projection and Dolby Digital Surround Sound from the safety of your own vehicle.
For more information on showtimes and the location, visit http://digitaldriveinaz.com/
Queen Creek Olive Mill uses their extra virgin olive oil in their skin care line, Olivespa. They have been donating their Lavender Hand Balm to hospitals and health care workers all over the valley to show their gratitude!
This past Tuesday was Arizona Gives Day. This is a day dedicated to raising awareness and donations for non-profit organizations that play a critical role in our cities and state. On Tuesday, AZ Gives was able to raise over $4.5 Million for nonprofits, which will provide relief for those organizations that have lost necessary funding due to the covid pandemic. You can still donate to your favorite cause at https://www.azgives.org/nonprofits
Valley country singer Matt Farris and his band serenaded neighbors while they watched from their driveways. Loading up on a flatbed, Farris hosts his concert on wheels to bring music to his community. “I know a lot of people are struggling right now and I watch the news often and see the numbers going up and people are scared,” Farris said. “And I want people to forget about it for a little bit and just kind of enjoy it and know we'll get through it together and music heals everything.”
Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants have launched a Burritos for Badges program allowing people to donate meals to first responders and medical personnel. Anyone who makes a minimum $10 donation receives a digital coupon for a free cheese crisp ($7 value) with purchase of an entree.
You can donate online or by calling 480-857-0343.
GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE
Feel good by giving to the Mesa United Way who is working with Visit Mesa and Gateway Bank selling our custom State 48 t-shirts. Since 1921, Mesa United Way has been committed to raising funds for service programs providing a helping hand with basic needs, education, health, and self-reliance. All proceeds will benefit United Way and go to support our neighbors in need during this difficult time. Support local!
Painted Rocks in Las Sendas
It appears that someone is placing painted rocks with inspirational quotes and happy images throughout the Las Sendas community. This could be a fun scavenger hunt to get you out of the house (while still social distancing) and try to find where all the rocks are! You can even paint your own and place them yourself! It's great to see what creative things our Mesa communities are doing to spread some cheer to their neighbors.
