Meet Victoria Ligons of The Arizona Healing Haven Project in Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Ligons.

Victoria, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Glendale, AZ. My mother was a single mother and my father was in prison for most of my life. There were plenty of moments in my life where we were in great need of basic necessities and I remember the toll that it had on me and my siblings. Growing up with such scarcity definitely makes you independent and creative. When you don’t have much you have to work with what you have and work harder than everyone else.

Due to my upbringing, I have always had empathy for children that were less fortunate because they are subject to conditions without any choice of there own. Without hope, they stay within environments that are not built for growth, but the later. When I was a youth, I had many individuals within my community who gave me hope and also outside resources that helped me venture outside of the world that I was in. One of the resources that I was lucky enough to be apart of was Christian church summer camps. Some of the kids that I met had parents in the same situations and we had similarities that I wouldn’t be able to discover if we were not excluded from everyday world stimulants (television, radio, computers, phones). The reason for us being there was to become silent within our minds and to give God the chance to come into hearts.

That was the first time I felt the presents of the holy spirit and if I wouldn’t have had that experience, I wouldn’t know what that would feel like. Those people and the church camps saved me. That is why I partnered with The Arizona Healing Haven Project to help less fortunate children in Arizona. I operate all of the outreach programs for the organization and also come up with ways to raise money for the programs. Every year I raise money by selling baked goods through my bakery Victoria Boulangerie and my pie product “Piety” This started by someone daring me to make an apple pie one day and saying how difficult it was. I made the pie and they said that it was the best pie that they have EVER had, which sparked an idea to use this newfound talent to raise money to help children in my community. I was approached by a few local schools to speak and help children find ways to help with bullying, peer pressure, depression, anxiety, and other issues. I feel that its a duty to my community to give back, just as people have given to me. I believe that children who grow up in less fortunate circumstances, just need someone to give them hope for a better future.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to starting The Arizona Healing Haven, Victoria Boulangerie, and Piety were pretty simple. The hardest part is seeking the individuals who need assistance. When I first started, I would conduct random interviews with people in lower-income communities. I would ask questions about issues that they were currently having and many of the individuals that I spoke with were hesitant to speak because they were not American citizens and were fearful of deportation. However, I was able to by past that initial fear. It was surprising to know that many of the people that I spoke with were hard-working individuals that just needed some help.

When I conducted interviews with the children, it was hard because many of these children were lacking food, clothes, and toiletries. I don’t believe that Arizonans know that there are so many children and families within there own community that need help. I have come across families that were growing their own produce because they didn’t have a few dollars to buy fresh produce from the grocery store. I would ask the children what their dreams and aspirations are in life, but I could tell there was a void. How can a child dream when there is a need for basic necessities?

Please tell us about The Arizona Healing Haven Project.
I believe that my childhood is what sets me apart from others. I am able to relate with the children that I help because I have been in some of the same situations as them. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions and the roots spring up and make new trees – Amelia Earhart.

The thing about the good act of kindness is that you are unable to see what seed that you planted until the seed has been watered and nurtured through time. I am not sure exactly how much I am helping, but I know that if I plant enough seeds. There’s a possibility that one will sprout and become a tree and plant more seeds.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Success is not measured by what I do compared to what others have done. It is measured by what I do with what ability that God gave me. This quote from Zig Zigler is what drives me to keep going. My intention and persistence are the characteristics that I always have in everything that I do.

Pricing:

• Apple Pie $20.00
• Blueberry Loaf w/ Lemon Glaze $15.00
• Dutch Apple Quick bread $17.00

Contact Info:

• Address: 9393 N 90th St. #102-158 Scottsdale, AZ 85258
• Website: etsy.com/shop/victoriaboulangerie
• Phone: 602-750-5094
• Email: info@azhhp.org
• Instagram: victoriazecretz
• Facebook: theazhealinghavenproject
• Twitter: THEAZHHP

Image Credit:
The Arizona Healing Haven Project, Victoria Ligons

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