SOuL’s Busy Summer

COMMUNITY SOuL’s Busy Summer

Members of SOuL

During the summer, SOuL (Smiling Out Loud) stayed busy providing support to worthy organizations in the Northwest Valley and beyond. With funds raised from the SOuL Sisters’ Attic, the group was able to give out assistance to the following groups: • The Sun Cities Salvation Army Corps gratefully received

SOuL’s donation to provide meals for the underprivileged children attending their summer day camp. More than 60 kids would get a breakfast, lunch, and healthy snack each day through the summer with these funds.

• Valley View Food Bank indicated that the donation from

SOuL would fund purchases of pantry staples such as peanut butter, pasta, cereal, and other items. The food bank director stressed the importance of our donation due to inflation and economic uncertainty.

Carol Courter and Linda Wright present a donation check for summer day camp meals to Salvation Army’s Captain Kathy Merritt.

Photo caption Valley View Food Bank: Carol Courter and Linda Wright present a donation check to Jesse Ramirez (second from right), Food Bank Manager, and his assistant Gerald Ramirez. • The Phoenix Dream Center was so grateful for SOuL’s donation to fund their programs helping those affected by human trafficking and for donated clothing items.

Debbie Evans and Janet Chapman present a donation check to Stephanie, Development Manager at the Phoenix Dream Center. • HART (Helping at Risk Teens) Pantry received a large amount of back-to-school items (calculators, binders, ruled paper, and more) purchased and delivered by SOuL to be used with their “Backpacks for Teens” program.

SOuL is also proud to announce that it is now a registered 501-C3 organization. This milestone for our charity support organization is a long time coming and is such an accomplishment. SOuL thanks member Monica Harmon for her work to achieve this status. SOuL is looking forward to our future as a moving force for good in our community and outside the Corte Bella gates.

Ruth Langford, HART Director, accepts SOuL’s donation of supplies for the back-to-school backpacks for underserved teens.

SOuL Regrets to Announce:

Due to circumstances beyond our control, SOuL has decided to not hold its SOuL Fiesta (also known as a chili cookoff and/or salsa contest) in November. This has been rescheduled to be held on March 6, 2023. Thank you for your understanding and your support for our fundraising events.