Amberly's Place

08/12/2026

Yuma Insurance definitely did not disappoint Lottie! 🐾💕 They showed up with groceries in hand, ready to help stock the Amberly’s Place pantry in celebration of Lottie’s birthday. We are so grateful for their generosity and for helping make Lottie’s special birthday month about giving back to our community!

08/07/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff Recruits for choosing Amberly’s Place as the recipient of your generous donation!

We are incredibly grateful that you chose to pay it forward and support the work we do for victims and families throughout Yuma County. Your commitment to serving our community both in uniform and through acts of generosity like this means so much to us.

Thank you for supporting Amberly’s Place and our mission! 💙

Deputy Sheriff Recruits selected Amberly's Place as the recipient of a donation earned through their volunteer work at the 2026 MATO event.

Their group received the donation from the Caballeros de Yuma for their assistance during the event, and chose to pay it forward to an organization making a difference in Yuma County.

Thank you to the Caballeros de Yuma for their generosity, and to our recruits for supporting Amberly's Place and its mission to serve local children and families.

08/05/2026

Amberly's Place is named in honor of Amberly Mendoza. Although her life was taken far too soon, her name continues to represent hope, healing, and support for victims and survivors throughout our community.
Today, we are sharing this information because every detail matters. Even something that may seem small could help investigators bring answers, accountability, and justice for Amberly and her family.
We are thankful for the Yuma Police Department and the partnering agencies that continue to work tirelessly on this case and remain committed to finding those responsible.
Please take a moment to review the information being shared. If you know anything, no matter how insignificant it may seem, we encourage you to contact law enforcement.
Amberly's name lives on every day through the work we do, the survivors we serve, and our shared commitment to creating a safer community.

AMBERLY MENDOZA HOMICIDE
Case: 1996-3658
Yuma, AZ –

On Saturday, March 9, 1996, at approximately 10:47 a.m., Yuma Police officers responded to a disturbance call in the 1700 block of W. 24th Lane. Upon arrival, officers located a 10 year old female unresponsive in her bedroom.

The investigation showed an unknown subject(s) entered the Mendoza residence, sexually assaulted 10 year old Amberly Mendoza in her bedroom, then killed her. The cause of death is listed as asphyxiation.

Detectives from Yuma Police Department coordinated with other resources within the state. As a result, FBI’s Phoenix Field Office is now offering a reward of up to $30,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) involved in the death of Amberly Mendoza.

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/amberly-mendoza

This case is still under investigation.

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Yuma Police Department at (928) 783-4421 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

Information Released By: Sergeant Lori Franklin

08/04/2026

Protecting our community takes all of us, and today we're recognizing the incredible work of the Yuma Police Department and its law enforcement partners in preventing children from becoming victims of exploitation.

At Amberly's Place, we walk alongside victims and survivors every day, providing trauma-informed advocacy, coordinated care, and compassionate support after abuse, violence, and exploitation have occurred. That is why we are especially grateful for proactive efforts like this one. Through the dedication and collaboration of the Yuma Police Department and its partnering agencies, suspected child predators were taken off our streets before any child became a victim requiring our services. Prevention is one of the greatest victories our community can achieve.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Yuma Police Department and the partnering agencies whose vigilance, professionalism, and teamwork helped make our community safer. Every child deserves to grow up free from abuse, violence, and exploitation, and every successful effort to prevent harm is a victory for our community.

Together, through collaboration, prevention, and education, we can continue building a safer future for children and families.

Please see the Yuma Police Department's official press release below.

08/04/2026

🚧 Parking & Construction Notice 🚧

Amberly's Place will remain OPEN during upcoming construction in our parking lot. We appreciate your patience as we make improvements to better serve our community.

Please note the following temporary changes:

🚗 Parking is still available in the designated areas shown on the map.
➡️ The front entrance will remain open and accessible to the public.
🚧 Due to construction, you will not be able to drive through the parking lot from one entrance to the other. Please use the designated entrance and exit routes shown on the map.
♿ The wheelchair ramp on the west side of the building will be temporarily unavailable while construction is taking place. An accessible wheelchair ramp is available from the S. 3rd Avenue entrance and will remain open for anyone needing accessible access to the building.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete these improvements. If you have any questions or need assistance accessing our facility, please don't hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to continuing to serve our community throughout construction.

07/28/2026

🎂🐾 Lottie is turning TWO... and you're invited to paw-ty with us! 🐾🎂

Our favorite four-legged team member has one birthday wish... to help fill our Crisis Pantry for local families in need! 💕

Instead of bringing gifts for Lottie, bring a non-perishable food item and celebrate with a pup who spends every day making children and families feel safe.

📅 Wednesday, August 19, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Amberly's Place - 1310 S. 3rd Avenue

Lottie's Birthday Wish List:
🐾 Cake mix
🐾 Cake frosting
🐾 Pancake mix
🐾 Pancake syrup
🐾 Ramen
🐾 Mac & Cheese
🐾 Peanut butter
🐾 Jelly
🐾 Canned veggies (no cream corn)
🐾 Oatmeal packets
🐾 Canned fruit
🐾 Canned tuna
🐾 Canned chicken
🐾 Pasta
🐾 Pasta sauce
🐾 Rice
🐾 Beans
🐾 Cereal
🐾 Capri Suns
🐾 Granola bars
🐾 Instant coffee

Whether you stop by with one item or a whole grocery bag, you'll be helping provide comfort and nourishment to families during some of their most difficult moments.

Come say hi to Lottie, snap a birthday photo, and help us celebrate the best way she knows how, by giving back to the community she loves.

07/27/2026

📢 A new school year is here!

The first day of school brings fresh notebooks, new friendships, and the chance for every child to grow, learn, and thrive.

As we celebrate this new beginning, let's also remember that schools are more than just places of learning; they're places where caring adults can make a life-changing difference. Sometimes, a teacher, counselor, nurse, administrator, or school staff member is the first to notice when a child may need help.

Everyone at Amberly's Place is incredibly grateful for the educators and school professionals who create safe spaces, recognize the signs of abuse or neglect, and take action when something doesn't seem right. Their compassion, awareness, and willingness to speak up can change a child's life.

As students head back to the classroom, let's all do our part to help ensure every child feels safe, supported, and ready to succeed. 🌈

07/24/2026

When people hear about Amberly's Place, one of the most common questions we receive is, "Do you have a shelter?"

The answer is no—Amberly's Place is not an emergency shelter.

What we are is a place where victims and survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and elder abuse can find compassionate, trauma-informed support all in one location.
Our team provides:
💜 Advocacy and crisis support
💜 Forensic interviews
💜 Forensic medical exams
💜 Counseling referrals
💜 Care coordination
💜 Connections to community resources
💜 Assistance navigating the next steps toward safety and healing

If someone needs emergency shelter, we work closely with our trusted community partners to help connect them with safe housing and the resources they need.
Every victim and survivor's journey is different, and our role is to ensure no one has to navigate it alone.

If emergency shelter is needed, our advocates work with trusted community partners to provide referrals and connections to available safe housing resources. While Amberly's Place is not a shelter, we remain committed to helping individuals access the services that best meet their immediate needs.

If you or someone you know needs support, we're here to help.
📍 Amberly's Place Family Advocacy Center
🌐 www.amberlysplace.com
📞 (928) 373-0849

Hope is cultivated when victims and survivors are met with support, clear information, and meaningful resources. We help people see that even in moments of crisis, a path forward is possible.

07/23/2026

💙 A heartfelt thank you to Ashley Furniture HomeStore for your incredible generosity and commitment to our community.

Because of your thoughtful donation of a mattress and bed sheets, a victim in need will receive the comfort, dignity, and security that can make all the difference during a difficult time.

We know the time, planning, and effort that went into making your community giving event a success, and we are truly grateful that you chose to support Amberly's Place and the families we serve.

Your partnership helps us continue our mission of providing hope, healing, and support to victims and survivors throughout our community. Together, we are making a meaningful difference one act of kindness at a time.

Thank you, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, for standing with Amberly's Place and helping us bring comfort to those who need it most.

07/20/2026

Don’t Delay. Report Right Away.

Sexual assault is never the victim’s fault. Ever.
If an assault has occurred, reporting as soon as possible can:

• Preserve critical evidence
• Strengthen investigations
• Connect survivors to medical care and advocacy
• Prevent further harm

Even if you’re unsure, reach out. Support is available.
The sooner it’s reported, the sooner help can begin.