Service Projects
Senior Women
In July of 2017, Soroptimist of Merced began a partnership with the Merced County Human Services Agency Adult Protective Services by establishing a committee, Soroptimist Service to Senior Women.
The mission of the committee is to be responsive to the individual needs of senior women in the Merced community and help to improve their quality of life. Any services given are with the permission of the women receiving them.
The four areas of focus:
- Phone calls, notes, cards to specific women
- Home visits, reading to seniors
- Personal services – shopping, errands
- Filling Christmas Stockings
Thos remembers interested in providing one or more services, went through the required training with the Human Services Agency and fingerprinting.
Awards Night 2019-2020
On February 13, 2020, Soroptimist of Merced distributed over $10,000 to local non-profit organizations and they support. This year the list included:
- Alpha Pregnancy Center
- America Legion Auxiliary’s Girls State program
- Boys and Girls Smart Girls program
- Merced High School FFA Leadership program
- Valley Crisis Center
- Love, INC
- CASA
The funds are earned by the Soroptimist members through their Annual Hors d’oeuveres Festival held each May. Preparations had begun for this year’s festival when the event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic
Supporting Our Community on Awards Night 2019-2020
From left to right: Debbie Croft of Alpha Pregnancy Center; Sandy Tolefson from American Legion Auxiliary Girls State; Virginia Hayward, Boys & Girls Club; Cathy Castro of CASA ; Annette Macias of Love, INC.; Stephanie Kuhr & Lauren Palumbo of the Merced High School FFA; Chee Yang of Valley Crisis Center; all winners with Mary-Michal Rawling, President Soroptimist of Merced, and Teri Kleinen and Vice President Soroptimist of Merced
