ABOVE: Holding gift cards (l-r) are Soroptimists Kaye Van Nevel and Lani Beltrano, and Operation HOPE’s Nicole Ketcher (Resource Development Manager) and Kathleen Higgins (Executive Director). Photo by Jackie Piro Huyck
Vista, CA, November 25, 2017 –Soroptimist International of Vista and North County Inland recently donated $500 worth of $25 gift cards to children in Operation Hope’s year-round shelter for homeless families. Soroptimist Lani Beltrano came up with the idea after hearing Kathleen Higgins, Project Hope’s Executive Director, speak at a recent club meeting. “I thought it would be rewarding for our club to do something special for homeless children and mothers in our community around the holidays,” said Beltrano. Since donations for toys were already plentiful, fellow Soroptimist Kaye Van Nevel, who volunteers at the shelter, came up with the idea of giving gift cards for “shoes, boots and socks” around Thanksgiving. With the Soroptimist club’s approval, Beltrano decorated a shoe box to hold donations, and passed it around at subsequent club meetings. Once the goal of $500 was met, 20 Walmart gift cards were purchased.
The gift cards were presented to the children at the shelter on Thanksgiving Eve by Beltrano, who first joked with the kids about the kinds of shoes, boots and socks they might want to buy (with props) and explained what a Soroptimist is (and how to pronounce “Soroptimist”). “We want to make sure they see this is from the good hearts of Soroptimists of Vista and North County Inland,” said Van Nevel.
