your ARcadia Realtor.com 602.463.3359 4501 East Calle Del Norte H i L L A R Y $1,150,000 GURLEY GURLEY 2045 E. bethanY HOME Road $859,000 R E D U C E D SOLD R E D U C E D R E D U C E D UNDER CONSTRUCTION & UNDER CONTRACT $599,000 4025 North 33rd PLAce Page 36 July 2016 By Ian Kraft Due to the six-year-long civil war in Syria, reportedly more than 3 million Syrian refugees have fled the country. With approximately 55,000 Syrians migrating to Greece, camps and squats struggle to provide everyday necessities such as water and shoes, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Jill Thomas, a 24-year Arcadia resident and lifelong volunteer, recently joined Carry the Future, a Los Angeles- based nonprofit organization that provides aid and volunteers to refugee families in need, and their effort to help Syrian families in Greece. “I couldn’t just sit around and do nothing,” Thomas said. “As a mother of three teens, I can only imagine what the Syrian mothers are going through not being able to provide for their children, so in November 2015 I applied to Carry the Future to help volunteer.” After waiting three months for a response to her application, Thomas received an email inviting her to be part of a six-woman team that would fly to Greece in April and provide aid to refugee camps throughout the country. While in Greece, Thomas and her team brainstormed ideas to help the mothers specifically, considering all six women did in fact have children. The group decided to provide baby boxes that included swaddling blankets, baby carriers, diapers, mosquito nets and more. “That was where Baby Boxes for Refugees began,” said Thomas. The team has high hopes for the baby boxes. “Right now our goal is to get 200 boxes sent to Greece by June 20, but our ultimate goal is to get the boxes sent out globally,” Thomas said. “There are more than 27 million refugees in the world and these boxes could help a lot of them.” After a 12-day stay in Greece, Thomas knew there was still much work to be done. “Nobody wanted to leave,” Thomas said. “We had made so much progress and we all felt like we had accomplished so much that we felt like we were leaving so much work behind. Less than a month later, Thomas and her oldest son Zach Hart went back to Greece to further her efforts. “As I was leaving in March, I thought to myself, ‘I have to come back here with Zachary,’” Thomas said. “So in May, Zachary and I went back, rented a van and continued delivering baby boxes and water and other things to camps spread out over 1,500 miles.” Zach Hart, a sophomore at Northern Arizona University, said when his mother invited him on the trip to Greece, he expected a lot of leisure time and was surprised how much work he had to do. When he came home though, he was thankful for the experience. “[Before we left], my mom told me a little bit about the living situation of the refugees. However, I did not expect it to be as horrendous as it was,” Hart said. “It’s one thing hearing about it, but seeing it in person was completely eye-opening.” Hart said he grew as a person from the experience, and has learned to appreciate the little things in his life. “After coming home, I [realized] I had made a difference in thousands of people’s lives. I gave refugees shoes that not only fit, but were gender appropriate as well, for example. It was the small stuff like that that made them happiest, and seeing their appreciation made me happy,” Hart said. “It was a great experience.” Thomas said she plans on going back to Greece in September to further her efforts with the refugees. “It’s something dear to my heart. There is still so much to do. If I, as a mom from Phoenix, can help these people, anyone can,” Thomas said. For more information on the refugees in Greece and other places, visit carrythefuture.org. Arcadia native aids Syrian refugees in Greece The Petra Camp in Northern Greece (left) and a camp located within an abandoned manufacturing plant were two of the refugee camps where Jill Thomas and her son volunteered. Jill and her son Zach in Greece.

FAMILY PRACTICE Tyler Southwell, M.D. received his B.S. in biological sciences and biochemistry and attended medical school at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. Along the way he found himself training to be a surgeon. Dr. Southwell’s main ethos is that patients deserve respect. He believes that treatment options should be a shared decision between a patient and physician. fpsaz.com. 4 3 5 0 E CA MEL BACK RD # F-10 0 • 6 0 2 .9 5 5. 8 7 0 0 July 2016 To advertise your business on this page, contact Roni Mier at 602-840-6379 or roni@arcadianews.com for more information. HONORING YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY HonorHealth was formed by a merger between Scottsdale Healthcare and John C. Lincoln Health network. We Honor your right to care that’s centered around you. Your unique needs. Your schedule. Your goals. In fact, we think you deserve an entire network of experts connected to each other who are all focused on what makes you tick. We’re making healthy personal. Learn more at 623-580-5800 or HonorHealth.com . H onor H ealt h.com • 6 2 3. 5 8 0. 5 8 0 0 DOCTOR HOUSECALLS OF PARADISE VALLEY We provide comprehensive mobile urgent care to all ages in the comfort and privacy of your home, hotel, or workplace. Reliable, Board Certified ER physicians are available for the evaluation and treatment of medical issues and all of our physicians have dispensing licenses. Our team utilizes a state-of-the-art fully equipped mobile unit and offers quality care including lab tests, treatments and medication. On call daily 10am-9pm. www.drhousecallsofpv.com SERV ING A RCA DI A • 4 8 0.9 4 8 .0 10 2 ARIZONA EYE SPECIALISTS Arizona Eye Specialists offer a full scope of ophthalmology care along with Medical and Surgical services in their six Valley locations. The doctors and staff of Arizona Eye Specialists are dedicated to helping our patients maintain and improve their vision through the latest technology and treatment regimens. If you would like more information please contact us at 480-994-5012 or arizonaeyes.net. 6 LOCAT ION S TO SERV E YO U • 4 8 0.9 9 4 . 5 0 12 NEXTCARE URGENT CARE - ARCADIA Finding quality healthcare that you can trust is important to you. At NextCare Urgent Care, we take that to heart, making sure you, your family, and your community are well-cared for. Daytime, evenings, weekends and holidays, NextCare Arcadia is here for you when you need quality healthcare from a compassionate, caring staff. NextCare Urgent Care – when feeling great can’t wait. Visit www.nextcare.com for hours and additional location information. 47 3 0 E INDI A N S CHOOL RD # 211 • 8 7 7.617.418 6 4 3 5 0 E CA MEL BACK RD #A-2 0 0 • 4 8 0.9 4 8 . 8 4 0 0 4 2 3 5 N 3 2ND S T #A • 6 0 2 .3 57. 8 6 0 7 KOALA CENTER FOR SLEEP DISORDERS Koala Center for Sleep Disorders provides the Oral Appliance solution to the Medical Condition of Sleep Apnea. Dr. Hamann and Dr. Aftahi have nearly 50 years combined experience in dentistry and advanced training in the treatment of sleep disorders. They provide comfortable treatment options for patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, snoring, and temporomandibular joint disorder using non-invasive oral appliance therapy. KoalaBiltmore.com THE SPA AT TALKING STICK RESORT Retreat to a higher place at our luxurious Scottsdale Spa. The Spa at Talking Stick—a 13,000 square foot, open-air spa located on the 14th floor of our Scottsdale hotel—is the ultimate in world-class rejuvenation. With private rooms offering guests the best unparalleled views of the Valley and floor-to-ceiling windows that can be opened during spa treatments, there’s simply no better place to relax and refresh. For more information call 480.850.4065 or visit talkingstickresort.com . 10 1 F W Y & INDI A N BEND RD • 4 8 0.8 5 0.4 0 6 5 OLD TOWN SCOTTSDALE WEIGHT LOSS & WELLNESS Providing Total Body Wellness. We know that it is crucial to individualize wellness plans that compliment and utilize the strengths of our clients in order for them to successfully reach their goals and show continued improvement! Offering services in weight loss, vitamin & fat burning injections, hormone therapy, nutrient testing, facial aesthetics, and corporate wellness. Ask about our Monthly Membership Power Partner Benefits! OTSWellness.com 4 0 3 2 N MIL L ER ROA D # 10 8 • 4 8 0.3 6 0. 2 2 9 9 SPECTRUM DERMATOLOGY Spectrum Dermatology offers the full range of dermatological care - from medical to surgical and cosmetic - in their four Valley locations. The doctors and staff of Spectrum Dermatology are dedicated to helping patients of all ages maintain healthy skin through the latest technology and treatment regimens. Same Day appointments are available. If you would like more information please contact us at 480-948-8400 or SpectrumDermatology.com . maintain healthy skin through the latest technology and treatment regimens. Same PHOENIX ALLERGY & ASTHMA At Phoenix Allergy and Asthma we specialize in the evaluation and treatment of adults and children with sinus allergies, chronic cough, food allergies, eczema and hives. We also offer conventional allergy shots and a rapid allergy shot process for patients and families with busy schedules. Michael Saavedra, MD is board certified in Allergy & Immunology and has been treating patients with allergies and asthma in the Valley since 2009. phoenixallergyclinic.com 4 9 0 1 N 4 4T H S T # 10 3 • 6 0 2 .9 5 4 .0 4 0 5