SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL of LODI SUNRISE
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS

New Playground at Blakely Park is Dedicated

Soroptimist International of Lodi Sunrise partnered with the Lodi Professional Association of Fire Fighters to raise money to improve the playground at Blakely Park in Lodi. The groups donated almost $9000, which was raised at our "Finery at the Winery" fundraisers held in the fall of 2004 and 2005. Wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres were served and a fashion showing features the fire fighters entertained the attendees.

On Tuesday January 23, 2007 the new play ground was dedicated by Steve Dutra, superintendent of the Lodi Parks and Recreation Department. The dedication included a plaque which was unveiled during the dedication ceremony.

The Plaque before the unveiling	President Bobbe Blair and "Finery at the Winery" Chairman Joan Morrison assist with the unveiling.		A close up of the plaque honoring SI Lodi Sunrise and the Lodi Professional Firefighters

Six trees were removed in order to create the playground. Our donated money was used to purchase eleven large trees to shade the area. The trees will also provide fall colors previously lacking in the park.

Soroptimists and Figherfighters are joined by city dignitaries on the new slide.	SI Lodi Sunrise members and firefighters attend the dedication	Brenda Kosaka tries out the new slide

The local newspaper, the Lodi News-Sentinel, printed an account of the dedication ceremony as well as a box high lighting Sorotimist International of Lodi Sunrise on January 24, 2007.

Gifts For Moms
Soroptimist International of Lodi Sunrise has been giving gifts to mothers at Christmas since the club was first chartered in July 1989. This project started when with the upcoming holidays, our club wanted to celebrate the season and thought of exchanging gifts with our members. Instead, we felt that giving a gift would be more in line with our philosophy of service. The Marine Corps takes care of the children with their Toys for Tots Program, but nothing is ever done for the mothers of these children. The first year we started with a small amount of about two dozen gifts that were to be distributed. We selected a school and enlisted the help of the principal and staff to identify the needy mothers. For most of these mothers, this would be the only present they would receive for Christmas.

Gifts given would be items that only a mother could use. No candy or food that would be shared with the family. This kept the gifts to items that would be for the personal use of the mother. The project has been expanded and we now receive donations from many community merchants as well as friends and other Soroptimist clubs. The gifts were clothing, perfume, cosmetics, jewelry and other personal care items. This year we were able to assemble 164 bags for the Gifts For Moms Service Project. The Gifts For Moms Program is just another example of how the Lodi Sunrise club has maintained our mission of serving women and girls in our local community and throughout the world.

Read N Rap
Read N Rap is a book club program that will pair our club with young 7th or 8th grade girls in reading a book that will promote women’s issues in today’s society.

Revised January 24, 2007