Serving others warms the soul - even on cold days

Tired of the cold? I have a great opportunity for you!

Enjoy the 19th annual luau with the Carson City Kiwanis Club. The price of a ticket gets you into the islands, which includes a Polynesian dinner and a free mai tai. Attire is casual. Hawaiian prints are not required, but they are recommended to pretend it's hot here in Northern Nevada.

Not only is it a fun social evening, the prizes and atmosphere are always great.

As Ken Beaton said, "This is the largest Kiwanis fundraiser, and 100 percent of the money goes to Carson City organizations."

I can attest to that. Last year they gave a vocational-education scholarship to Ashley Standridge and she will be going to Johnson & Whales Culinary Institute because of the wonderful members at Kiwanis.

The 89 members of Carson City Kiwanis use the money for scholarships for Carson High School seniors and for the Builders Club at Eagle Valley Middle School, the children's section of the Carson City Library and many other projects.

One of my all-time favorites is the Back-to-School Shopping Spree every year which sponsors more than 100 children in need.

You know where your money is going when you go to this event.

Carson City Kiwanis 19th annual luau

When: 5:30-11 p.m. Saturday

Where: Upstairs at the Carson Nugget, 507 N. Carson St.

Tickets: $40. Calling Howard Tooley at 450-6810

Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare Auxiliary is holding a rummage sale. So get started on that spring cleaning and donate those unwanted items to a very worthy cause.

You can donate the items and get a tax write-off and help the auxiliary. If you wish to donate items, they may be taken to the south end of the old Wal-Mart building in the Southgate Shopping Center at the corner of South Carson Street and Clearview 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 29-31.

If you're looking for that one-of-a-kind treasure, come support the Carson Tahoe Auxiliary. The proceeds will go to the regional medical center, nursing scholarships and regional health-care needs. You be able to find some great bargains as well.

Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare Auxiliary rummage sale

When: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. April 1

Where: South end of the old Wal-Mart building in Southgate Shopping Center

Contact: Norma Summey, chairwoman, (775) 267-1917

If I don't put this one in, Autumn Smith, manager at Payless Shoe Source, will be tracking me down. Autumn called me the other day to tell me the Easter Shoe Program is going a little slower then usual.

With the weather being so cold, you may not want to venture out, but we have children in need of shoes.

If you want to purchase a pair of shoes, go to Payless Shoe Source and the staff there will give you the information needed.

I want to thank St. Teresa's Women's Group and Carol Sheeks for having me at the church the other night. The women took over 51 tags. That is amazing! I had a great time talking about the children within our community who deal with homeless issues that most people cannot imagine.

In addition, I will continue to thank all of you who have come in and purchased shoes, and Father Jerry Handley for sending a check to help the children. Without St. Paul's, St. Peters and St. Teresa's members and friends, most of the children wouldn't be helped.

I also want to thank the mother who bought her two children up there and gave them a choice of buying shoes for themselves or purchasing shoes for two other children. You have done a great job raising your children. Those children thought for one moment, then raced to the basket to select two tags - one for a boy and one for a girl. As I watched silently, I thought how your lesson in kindness will be forever remembered. Just remember, those simple acts of kindness do save children in ways that we may never know. It takes one moment for you to change a life.

Easter Shoe Program

When: Through April 9

Where: Payless Shoe Source, 911 Topsy Lane

Cost: Shoes purchased for the program will receive a 10 percent discount

Contact: Kim Riggs at 690-1303; or Payless at 267-1389

• To have your information included, e-mail Kim Riggs at kimriggs@att.net.