Supporting Bridge to Home February 2023
Clockwise from top: Karen Maleck-Whiteley receives donations on behalf of Bridge to Home; Jackie Howarth and Beth Ryan volunteering at Soup for the Soul, Jackie, Oriana John, Beth, and Karen at the Soup for the Soul Event.
Cultivating our close ties with Bridge to Home. The Service & Advocacy Committee collected toiletries and coordinated a sock drive for the February 2023 Business Meeting where club members donated 100 pairs of socks. Club member Karen Maleck-Whiteley, who also serves as Bridge to Home's Board of Directors Vice President, happily received our donations.
On February 26th, Bridge to Home held their annual Soup for the Soul fundraiser. The club provided a Japanese themed basket for the silent auction, thanks to a generous donation from club member Darleen Lyons. We also had club members Jackie Howarth, Oriana John, and Beth Ryan volunteer during the event.
Fostering Youth Holiday Party Dec 2022
The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley teamed up with ITT Aerospace Controls, Canyon High School Z Club, and Golden Valley Z Club to provide gifts and goodies for the Fostering Youth Independence (“FYI”) annual holiday party held on Saturday, December 10, 2022. There were over 70 youth participating in the FYI program this year. ITT Aerospace Controls donated filled stockings complete with $20 Target gift cards for all FYI youth. Stocking stuffer items included phone battery chargers, keychains with an alarm, tissues, ITT Aerospace branded pads of paper and stress balls, nail clippers, hand cream, cozy socks, and a $20 Target gift card. The Canyon High School Z Club and Golden Valley Z Club students rallied their communities to collect chapstick and tic tacs to include in the stockings. Close to twenty baker elves baked homemade cookies and other goodies, which were then packaged up and given to each youth and ally at the Holiday Party. It was thrilling for our Zonta elves, Lois Bauccio, Cherise Moore, and Beth Ryan, to see how excited the youth were to receive these wonderful gifts and goodies. Zonta Club of SCV members, Golden Valley Z Club members, and TEAM Referral Network - SCV Boss Ladies all contributed to this community collection of goodies. A warm thank you to Christine Sexton for hosting the cookie bagging bonanza at her home!
Foster youth do not often have an opportunity to just “be kids” and to be given things like a holiday stocking or homemade cookies from people who care about them. Zonta SCV has partnered with FYI for several years to help make this a special party for these deserving young people.
We would like to send a huge thank you to everyone who contributed and made this project a success and so meaningful for the FYI youth.
Fostering Youth Independence (FYI) was founded in 2017 by three Santa Clarita women who saw a need and shared a passion to help the underserved population of foster youth leaving the Los Angeles County foster care system without having been adopted or reunified with their birth parents. Emancipated foster youth are often the target of sex trafficking and other crimes. The mission of FYI is to equip foster youth to complete a post-secondary education and become successful, independent adults, and Zonta SCV is proud to partner with them in their important work.
Single Mother's Outreach - Mother's Day Event 2022
Helping mothers feel special for Mother's Day!
Zontians Volunteer at the Child and Family Center’s “Taste of the Town” Event
On May 1st, a group of Zontians volunteered at the Child and Family Center's "Taste of the Town" fundraiser event at the Blomgren Ranch on Sierra Highway. What a wonderful event! Although it was very warm and sunny, the guests had an amazing afternoon. The food was incredible! A great time was had by all, and all for a great cause!
Zoe International's Road of Justice Finish Line Treats
On Saturday, April 2nd, members of the Service Committee, joined by Club President Nicole Miller and members from both Z Clubs (Golden Valley and Canyon High School), volunteered at Zoe International’s Road of Justice cycling event. On Monday, March 28th a group of 20 cyclists left San Francisco for a cycling journey down the California coast with Valencia Heritage Park in Santa Clarita as the finish line. Zontians and Z Club members cheered the cyclists as they crossed the finish line and then handed out ice cream bars and frozen fruit bars to everyone in attendance. It was a small event, but obviously a very special event to Zoe International. The organization’s founders and top executives were there as well as many staff members from the local facility in Acton. All participants and attendees enjoyed the frozen treats. It was a lovely afternoon and we were honored to be part of such a heartwarming event. Many thanks to everyone who volunteered!
Donation of Self-Care Items to Bridge to Home
We collected a donation of self-care items to donate to Bridge to Home. According to Bridge to Home representatives, the timing could not have been better because they were out of nearly everything!
We donated:
- 59 - Shampoo & Conditioner Items
- 49 - Dental Floss
- 47 - Lotions
- 34 - Soaps & Body Wash Items
- 8 - Toothbrushes
- 4 - Lip Balms
- + Several Other Misc. Skin Care Items
Thank you to all who made donations to help Bridge to Home!
Service Committee Facilitates Donation from ITT Aerospace to Fostering Youth Independence
On Monday, January 17th our Club President, Nicole Miller, assisted the Service Committee in facilitating a large donation from the employees at ITT Aerospace Controls to FYI. The donation included bed pillows, throw blankets, bath towels, various gift cards, and grocery vouchers. We were very happy to make this donation for FYI possible, and coordinate and deliver the items on behalf of ITT Aerospace Controls. FYI was extremely grateful to start the year with such a generous donation. FYI meets with each youth in their program in January for a goal progress review and goal-setting session. This donation will allow each youth to start the year fresh with a brand new pillow, towel, blanket, gift card or voucher to help them on their way to meeting their goals!
Human Trafficking Survivor Backpack Project
Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. Women and girls are overwhelmingly the victims of sex trafficking. Zonta International USA Caucus in connection with the United Nations is working to end human trafficking. Our club is contributing locally by working with local law enforcement to support survivors of human trafficking. This project will provide backpacks full of personal comfort items that will be distributed by law enforcement crisis responders to rescued human trafficking survivors.
Believe. Build. Be.
The LifeForward program offers monthly skill-building workshops that concentrate on topics useful to women and girls of varying ages and interests. These include job search and application topics, parenting, self-care, mental health support, and financial education. Subject Matter Experts provide their expertise, knowledge and skills to promote empowerment and self-sufficiency.
In partnership with the local Boys and Girls Club, Zonta sponsors Girls' Robotics. It is designed to foster interest and skills in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. Girls, ages 9-14, learn to design, program and control fully-functional Lego Mindstorm Robots.
Zonta teams with Fostering Youth Independence (FYI)
The Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Service Committee teamed up with Fostering Youth Independence (FYI) to provide gifts and goodies for their annual holiday party held on Saturday, December 11, 2021. There were 56 participants in the FYI program this year. Several club members generously donated funds towards the purchase of gift cards and stocking stuffer items. We were able to provide $20 Target gift cards for all 56 participants. Stocking stuffer items included toothbrushes, gum, chapstick, lighted key chains, shaving cream, candy canes, and holiday chocolates. Seven Zonta baker elves baked homemade cookies, which were then packaged up at a fun “cookie night” and given to each youth at their “Grinchmas” Holiday Party the following day.
Foster youth do not often have an opportunity to just “be kids” and to be given things like a holiday stocking or homemade cookies from people who care about them. Zonta SCV has partnered with FYI for several years to help make this a special party for these deserving young people.
The Service Committee would like to send a heartfelt “Thank You” to everyone who contributed and made this project a success. A special expression of gratitude to the merry team of bakers for adding a little sweetness to the party.
Fostering Youth Independence (FYI) was founded in 2017 by three Santa Clarita women who saw a need and shared a passion to help the underserved population of foster youth leaving the Los Angeles County foster care system without having been adopted or reunified with their birth parents. Emancipated foster youth are often the target of sex trafficking and other crimes. The mission of FYI is to equip foster youth to complete a post-secondary education and become successful, independent adults, and Zonta SCV is proud to partner with them in their important work.
Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women
Check out our advocacy and awareness projects to see how we are advocating for women and girls.
"Through the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women campaign, Zonta clubs around the world are uniting to raise their voices to bring awareness to this issue and advocate on behalf of gender-based violence survivors."