SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL of LODI
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS

Reaching Out Project - 2008

Lodi Memorial Hospital staff and members of the Lodi Soroptimist International pose with tote bags the group has prepared for LMH to offer to elderly female patients being discharged from the hospital. L to R: LMH staff -Shelly Mason, Jamie Cramer and Emily Denham, Soroptimists-Betsy Peterson and Bev Lacy

The Lodi Soroptimist's Reaching Out Project is to assist elderly women with their transition from hospital to home. The target group is elderly women that live alone, and are returning to their homes with no one to help them. There were no social services programs in Lodi that assist these women. The Community Development Director expressed their concerns to Soroptimist's and the project was developed. The Reaching Out Project is a bag filled with items that will be helpful when they return home, including a lap blanket, hand sanitizer, lotion, wipes, lip balm, a flashlight, a magnifying glass, mints, gum, pens, a novel and list of frequently used phone numbers.

The recipients are selected by the Social Service workers at the hospital. The Soroptimst Club provides 10 filled bags per month. The bags are given to women anonymously to maintain their privacy. Recipients have been surprised and grateful for their bags and warm wishes.

For more information contact:

Soroptimist member Bev Lacy 334-5389
Lori Horan Community Development Lodi Memorial Hospital
Voice: (209) 339-7590
Fax: (209) 339-7686
e-mail: lhoran@lodihealth.org

Service Funds

Our service funds this year will benefit a variety of projects to be chosen by President Merry Donahue and the Board.

President Maria Howard's project in 2002-03 was the Women's Center. The club donated $10,000 to this project. The Women's Center provides housing for women and children who have suffered spousal abuse.

Our primary service project for 2001-02 under the presidency of Pam Trassare was the purchase of musical instruments for an Instrument Library for the children of Lodi Unified School District. The proceeds from our fund raising efforts benefited the children of Lodi by providing them with the opportunity to expand their horizons through music and to broaden the range of participation by providing musical instruments for disadvantaged children. A presentation of over $16,000.00 worth of instruments was made to the Lodi Unified School District Governing Board in the spring of 2003.

We have recently received a grant of $3,725 from the Lodi Arts commission to expand this program. We will be purchasing percussion instruments to donate to the school district with these funds.

Revised 06/29/08