The Sunnyslope Kiwanis Club recently “showered” a Central High School graduate, first with a scholarship for $1,200, and then with a surprise “dorm room shower” to help supply Wendy Alanis’ living quarters at the Arizona State University West Campus. Wendy began classes there last month, and is majoring in elementary education.
Recent Central High School graduate Wendy Alanis, center, was surprised with a “dorm room” shower from the Sunnyslope Kiwanis Club during its Aug. 6 lunch event. The surprise shower was the brainstorm of Kiwanis member Betsy Durkin, left, who learned more about Wendy’s family’s financial struggles in conversations with her, and broached the idea to club president Glenn Gormley, right, who whole-heartedly supported the idea (photo by Teri Carnicelli).
Wendy was the special guest at the Kiwanis Club’s Aug. 6 luncheon at North Mountain Brewery, where she received a carload of goods including pillows and bedding, a gently used flatscreen TV and DVD player, desk lamp, laundry bag and supplies, towels and bath products, a printer, desk organizer, $50 in Target gift cards, and more.
Kiwanis club member Betsy Durkin, who organized the dorm room shower for Wendy, learned of the financial struggles of Wendy’s family and broached the idea of the “shower” to her fellow club members, who not only agreed but came through in a big way. After the meeting, Durkin loaded all the donated items into her personal vehicle and later delivered them to the dorm room.
Wendy wrote a thank-you note to the club expressing her gratitude and pledging to one day “pay it forward.”
The Sunnyslope Kiwanis is a service club comprised of small business owners and corporate managers, school district officials, retired business owners and others who are actively involved in the Sunnyslope community. The club’s mission is to serve the youth in Sunnyslope through several service projects, including two annual high school scholarships that are available to Sunnyslope and Central High School students. For more information, visit Sunnyslope Kiwanis on Facebook.
