It was a double celebration when the Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis International Santa Paula Club staged a Mixer at the historic Depot to celebrate the centennials of the organization “In Business for Business” and service group “Serving the Children of the World” but especially those close to home.
The December 16 celebration drew a crowd where Sharon Robinson, wife of Chamber CEO Fred Robinson, stood in for him as he was undergoing a medical procedure the next morning.
“Fred really wanted to be here to say hello to everyone,” as they gathered in the same building as the Chamber offices.
Mayor Martin Hernandez and City Councilman John Procter also attended the mixer.
Kiwanis Club of Santa Paula President Carol Wood told the crowd that the club, which each year sponsors the Citrus Festival to benefit children and youth activities, has a new event it is looking forward to.
“We’re having a Sweetheart’s Dance on February 13 at the Community Center,” and the whole community is invited to celebrate Valentine’s Day while helping Kiwanis raise funds.
Mia Bustillos, a city native and Santa Paula High School Senior, is an example of the youth the Kiwanis Club supports: She is President of the 153-member Key Club at the high school.
The SPHS club is a chapter of Key Club International, the oldest and largest service leadership organization for teens that teaches leadership through service to others.
According to its website: “Key Club’s 267,000 members build themselves as they build their schools and communities. Key Club’s 5,000 clubs thrive in 30 nations in North America, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.”
By performing more than 12 million service hours each year, Key Club members make a difference in their communities and the world, organizing a variety of service projects, such as cleaning up parks, collecting clothing and organizing food drives. They also learn leadership skills by running meetings, planning projects and holding elected leadership positions at the club, district and international levels.
Bustillos said the SPHS Key Club is an active one meeting weekly for service projects that are ongoing whether in Santa Paula or in the county.
“I really think the Key Club is great, gives our students a chance to help our community,” noted Bustillos, who wore a UCLA sweatshirt to the joint celebration of the chamber and the Santa Paula Kiwanis Club, the university she will apply to when she graduates in June.
“We’re really proud of our Kiwanis International legacy and our own club,” said Wood, “And, we’re especially proud of our Key Club members…much like Mia, they’re really fantastic, caring kids!”
