Mayor Applauds Community Service Groups

About 50 residents joined Fountain Valley Mayor Mark McCurdy for breakfast Thursday as he applauded local groups for their commitments to helping the community and reintroduced them to residents.

"These organizations and volunteers do tremendous work in our community," McCurdy said.

At the Breakfast with the Mayor event, McCurdy invited members of the Fountain Valley Rotary Club, the Fountain Valley Kiwanis Club and the Assistance League of Huntington Beach to speak to the group of community members and explain their efforts in the community.

Assistance League of Huntington Beach

League President Carole Monheim told residents the group dates back 62 years. It was first formed when a small group of women decided they wanted to help the community. The Assistance League of Huntington Beach, which also serves the communities of Fountain Valley and Westminster, run 15 philanthropic programs including helping cloth underprivileged students, providing scholarships for students and veterans, offering dental and vision screenings and much more.

"We also have our birthday in a bag program through which we provide a bag with cake mix, candles and a few gifts so parents will have something to give their child on their birthday," Monheim said.

With more than 300 volunteers, the Assistance League of Huntington Beach works to raise money through events and the operatation of its Thrift Store. In 2012, Monheim said the league provide approximately $429,000 in goods and services to community members.

Learn more about the Assistance League of Huntington Beach at huntingtonbeach.assistanceleague.org.

Fountain Valley Rotary Club

There are 15 rotarians in Fountain Valley, but they do a lot of humanitarian work in the city.

"We are a small group of rotarians, but we do a tremendous amount for this community," Rotarian Ed Sussman said.

Each year the Fountain Valley Rotary Club strives to make positive impacts in the community. Once a month the rotary club handpicks four students who have shown great academic improvements. Sussman said the students prove to surpass tremendous difficulties.

"If you're not uplifted by their stories, something is wrong," Sussman said.

The Fountain Valley Rotary Club also provides scholarships and other community services, including sponsoring needy families on Christmas.

If you are interested in joining the club, you do not have to be a Fountain Valley resident. Everyone is welcomed to join. Meetings are held Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. Get more information at fountainvalleyrotaryclub.org.

Fountain Valley Kiwanis Club

Fountain Valley Kiwanis Club President Anne Crowley said the 35 club members focus on helping those in need.

"We help one child at a time, and anyone in need," Crowley said.

One of the largest components of the Fountain Valley Kiwanis Club is its Brittany's Closet program, which is designed to provide school clothes for local children who otherwise would not have new clothes to wear.

A few times a year, the Fountain Valley Kiwanis Club takes a group of needy students to Walmart and gives them $100 for school shopping.

Learn more about the Fountain Valley Kiwanis Club at FVKIWANIS.ORG.

Do you know someone who could benefit from these local groups? Tell us in the comments.