Caring Hearts & Hands members
Connie Vaughan
With a membership of 50-plus strong, Caring Hearts & Hands of Quail Creek raised a record amount of $17,000 for charity in 2023. These funds were raised from proceeds of the Fall Festival booth where we raffled two custom-made wagons (a tailgate party-themed wagon and a patriotic picnic-themed wagon) and sold our ever-popular handmade notecards; our first-ever Fashion Show in March to benefit YOTO (Youth On Their Own); and throughout the year, our members sold cards and 50/25/25 raffle tickets.
Of course, we did not do this alone. The residents of Quail Creek opened their hearts and their wallets to help us make this remarkable achievement. The following charities benefited:
YOTO: yoto.org/about-us
Youth On Their Own is a dropout prevention program that supports the high school graduation and continued success of youth experiencing homelessness in Pima County.
Annual Military Baby Shower
In conjunction with the 162nd Air National Guard, we plan an annual Baby Shower for 30 enlisted mothers-to-be or spouses of enlisted service personnel. This shower occurs on Armed Forces Day, celebrated on the third Saturday in May.
The Lapan Sunshine Foundation: lapansunshinefoundation.org
The Lapan Sunshine Foundation provides students from underserved communities with scholarships, mentorship, access to opportunities, and support for their often-overlooked additional needs. They aim to level the playing field and empower students to confidently pursue their dreams.
Caring Hearts & Hands of Quail Creek also wants to mention the nonmonetary gifts that we received from the Quail Creek community: clothes and handmade quilts from the QC Quilting Club for our Military Baby Shower; nonperishable foods, school supplies, and socks for the YOTO pantry; and for Lapan, providing holiday gifts for children/youth, along with the QC Computer Club prepping donated computers.
To learn more about Caring Hearts & Hands of Quail Creek, go to our homepage caringheartshandsqc.com.