About Mirna's Place

I have always been passionate about providing a helping hand to those in need. That passion was planted early on by my mother. Despite our limited resources, she always found a way to give to others—whether it was a warm meal, a kind word, or a simple act of kindness. Her example became the foundation of my own life’s mission: to serve and support those who need it most.

In my late thirties, I was invited to oversee the Buckeye St. Vincent de Paul Conference. This experience opened my eyes to the true scope of need in our community and taught me how to approach each situation with dignity, compassion, and empathy. I was honored to lead the conference for 10 years, during which I collaborated with businesses and organizations to expand our impact, especially through Thanksgiving and Christmas drives that reached hundreds of families.

My work in Buckeye eventually led to an opportunity to join the Community Outreach Department at Palo Verde Generating Station. It was here that I learned an important lesson: in order to receive donations and support from corporations, an organization must have official nonprofit status. This insight planted the seed for what would soon become my next big step.

In 2015, after 35 years of service, I retired from my job and immediately filed for nonprofit status. By 2016, I received the official IRS designation for Mirna’s Place, a private nonprofit organization born from years of hands-on service and heartfelt giving. Our mission is simple yet powerful: “Seeing the Need… Taking the Lead.”

That same year, six women—including myself—began meeting weekly for mutual encouragement and support. As our bond grew, so did our collective desire to give back. We launched our first Adopt-a-Family program for Christmas, expecting it to be a small gesture. What we discovered, however, was that giving to others became the greatest encouragement we could offer ourselves—and the strongest support system we could provide each other. These women became the very heart and soul of what Mirna’s Place is today.

In 2021, Mirna’s Place experienced a major turning point. One of the Amazon warehouses in Goodyear, Arizona, began donating pallets of miscellaneous items. Since then, five additional Amazon warehouses have joined in, generously contributing goods on a regular basis. The volume of donations quickly grew, and with it, our responsibility to ensure these items reached the people who needed them most.

To meet this challenge, we began partnering with local organizations that directly address critical needs in the community. Today, we are proud to collaborate with over 180 local organizations, each working toward a common goal: uplifting and supporting those who are struggling.

From a small act of kindness inspired by my mother, to a thriving nonprofit supported by hundreds of hands and hearts, Mirna’s Place is a living testament to the power of compassion. I am incredibly grateful for the journey—and for the countless individuals who have joined me in seeing the need and taking the lead.