Opinion
www.SanTanSun.com
December 6 – 19, 2014
Community Commentary
Letters to the editor
Donate this holiday season BY KEVIN HARTKE
It is hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner. As we prepare for the festivities both individually and as a community, let us be Kevin Hartke. reminded of Submitted photo opportunities to share our blessings with those less fortunate. Every year, many churches, nonprofit organizations and others lead efforts to identify disadvantage families and ensure that they are provided for. While many programs have been in place for years, the coordination of efforts continues to improve. Through the For Our City-Chandler initiatives, many groups collaborate more closely to share resources, thus maximizing efficiencies. As a result, we are able to serve a greater segment of our population and address more needs. One of the first holiday-giving events is the Stuffed with Love Boutique, which takes place on Friday, Dec. 12. The event is organized by the Chandler/Gilbert YMCA and Girl Scouts to benefit the 300 children at ICAN and their families. The uniqueness of this program is that every child from ICAN receives five tickets to shop at the boutique to redeem one item for themselves and four items for family members. It provides them with the opportunity to give back to others, which fills them with a sense of pride and empowerment. Donations of new or gently used
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Thank you from About Care
items for this event are accepted until Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Chandler YMCA, located at 1655 W. Frye Rd. In addition, volunteers are needed to help wrap gifts from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. For more information, contact Gina La Benz at (480) 262-8401 or by email at glabenz@vosymca.org. The Chandler Fire, Health & Medical Department hosts its annual Holiday Toy Drive on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Chandler Fashion Center near the Food Court area from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event benefits disadvantaged elementary school children and families identified by the Chandler Unified School District through the Chandler CARE Center. Anyone who donates a new, unwrapped toy will receive a ride in a fire engine on that day. Toy donations can also be dropped off at the Fire Headquarters at 151 E. Boston St. or at any Chandler Fire Station through Monday, Dec. 15. Firefighters will hand out the toys to children on Friday, Dec. 19. For information about the CARE Center or to register a family to receive gifts, call (480) 812-7900 or visit www.chandlerCAREcenter.com. The Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley Compadre Branch and Teen Center is hosting an event to benefit its registered club families on Saturday, Dec. 20. Donations can be dropped off at 300 E. Chandler Blvd., and volunteers are needed for gift wrapping from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, through Thursday, Dec. 18. Call (480) 899-8302 for additional details. The Chandler Christian Community Center coordinates an exceptionally successful holiday giving event called Operation Santa. More than 1,000 SEE COMMUNITY COMMENTARY PAGE 48
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the talented high school art students from Chandler, Hamilton and Valley Christian high schools for participating in our Veterans Day art auction high school competition. Also, thank you to the volunteers from Intel for helping with the event. The majority of our clients are veterans or widows of veterans and it was nice to have the community come together to honor them for their service and to support About Care’s programs. About Care’s mission is to deliver caring, compassionate support services using trained volunteers with special concern for the elderly and disabled homebound residents of Chandler and Gilbert. During this holiday season and in the New Year, I would urge everyone in our community to try to dedicate a few hours a month volunteering. Not only will you reap the benefits of this gift, but you will impact the lives of others by your generosity. Thank you again high school students and Intel employees! Sincerely, Ann Marie McArthur Executive Director About Care
members, parents and volunteers for enabling the Chandler Unified School District to achieve the ranking of “Best School District In Arizona” by the Niche organization in its 2015 national ranking. CUSD has an outstanding staff of administrators, teachers and support personnel but it takes an entire community to lift a district of more than 40,000 students to be rated as the best in our state of more than 250 districts. Since the school district was founded more than a century ago, the community of individuals and businesses has maintained high expectations and has provided exceptional support in terms of volunteer hours, donations and voter support for district override and bond ballot measures. We hope this recognition helps to demonstrate that the district has carefully and wisely used these precious resources. Congratulations to our entire Chandler Unified School District community and thank you. (The Niche ranking criteria include a broad range of district measures including academics, administration, educational outcomes, extracurriculars, food, health and safety, resources and facilities, sports and fitness, student culture and diversity and teachers.) Robert Rice President, Chandler Unified School District Board
An open letter to the CUSD community On behalf of the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board, I would like to thank our community
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Share your opinion with SanTan Sun News! We know you have an opinion! Share it with the SanTan Sun News. Please keep your Letters to the Editor around 200-300 words, or they may be edited for length. Include your first and last name, community or development name in Southern Chandler (Cooper Commons, Ocotillo, Sun Groves, etc.) or ZIP code and daytime phone number for verification. Anonymous letters are not typically accepted. Email is the preferred submission method, to Letters@SanTanSun.com. All submitted Letters to the Editor and Community Commentaries become the property of the SanTan Sun News and may be reprinted in part, quoting the letters’ authors, or in their entirety. Your submission to the SanTan Sun News is considered your permission to print your written opinion. Opinions expressed in Community Commentaries, Letters to the Editor or cartoons are those of the author, and not that of the SanTan Sun News.
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