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SUNRISE, SUNSET . . .
Kiwanis hope to snag commuters as members
kiwanis
Kerri Tapia is the president of the Sunrise Kiwanis Club.

The Sunrise Kiwanis — one of the Manteca service clubs that has big impacts when it comes to programs for youth and those in need — are hoping to encourage city residents with long commutes that want to be more active in their community by offering once a month evening meetings.

They will take place the first Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall, 580 Moffat Blvd., starting Nov. 7. The “sunset meeting” will be in place of the first Thursday gathering at 6:30 a.m. The Sunrise Kiwanis will continue to meet the other Thursdays of the month at 6:30 a.m. in the conference center of Doctors Hospital of Manteca for breakfast meetings.

It is as much about growing the ranks of the 50-member service club as it is to make it possible for Manteca residents with a desire to be more involved in their community to be able to do so.

“I wanted to do something for the community that is my home,” Tapia said as to why she joined the Kiwanis 10 years ago.

Since then Tapia, who works at the Second Harvest Food Basket, has said the camaraderie that comes with being in an active service club has made membership all the more rewarding.

The Sunrise Kiwanis have a major impact on the community. Last year they awarded nearly $50,000 to community groups with proceeds from their annual downtown Pumpkin Fair. 

That has allowed the club to help other non-profits provide a wide variety of programs and services to Manteca residents. The benefactors last year were VFW Post 6311, Manteca Prayer Breakfast, Manteca Senior Center, Sunrise Kiwanis International Foundation, Raymus House, Boy Scout Troop 432, Manteca Police Explorers, Community Emergency Response Team, Dream Closet, Kiwanis Family House, Manteca Noon Kiwanis Sponsored Youth, Every 15 Minutes, Second Harvest Food Bank, Seniors Helping Area Residents and Police, Special Day on the Farm, Thanksgiving in Manteca, Kiwanis Eliminate Program, Manteca High Sober Grad, East Union High Sober Grad, Sierra High Sober Grad, Great Valley Bookfest, Hospice of San Joaquin, Manteca Rotary, Valley CAPS, American Legion Post 249, Be.Tech career high school, Relay for Life, Kiwanis Rose Bowl Parade Float, Manteca Historical Society, FG Team Boosters, East Union Cemetery Association, Scout Troop 422, Manteca High Thespian Club, East Union High choir, and Manteca Centennial Celebration committee.

In addition they set aside a segment of Pumpkin Fair profits each year to provide bigger checks to three chosen non-profits. The picks for those checks from the Pumpkin Fair completed earlier this month are the Boys & Girls Club, HOPE Family Shelters, and Friends of the Manteca Library.

Serving as officers along with Tapia is Richard Silverman, incoming president; Nancy Loewen, vice president; Carolyn Richardson, secretary; Larry Malloy, treasurer; as well as board members Dave Bricker, John Brennan, Terry Mallory, Debbee Tarr, Nina Payne, and Joe Reed. Morris Lacey and Monica Mendoza oversee the Pumpkin Fair.

For more information about the club go to sunrisekiwanis.org or call Tapia at (209) 614-2429.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com