In helping young girls reach for the stars, Sequim Soroptimists are hoping they’ll reach out to others. In this case, with dolls in hand.
Soroptimist International of Sequim recently embarked on a project with the mission to provide opportunities for positive self-esteem, enhance learning and encourage community services for girls through a program called “AIM High … Reach for the Stars.”
Soroptimist Amanda Beitzel says some members of her group began tutoring at Greywolf Elementary School last year. The efforts have blossomed to help students from both Greywolf and Helen Haller Elementary through the Sequim Boys & Girls Club during the summer months.
“The purpose is to promote learning and thinking beyond one’s self,” Beitzel said.
One of the “AIM High” efforts includes the Heart Kids Rag Doll Project, where girls were selected to complete, decorate and name rag doll creations with the goal of learning about community service. Each girl included a note of encouragement to their doll with the finished project being donated to Healthy Families of Clallam County.
Beitzel, fellow members of the American Sewing Guild and friends created the dolls and the youths completed them, then presented the dolls to Daryl Trowbridge, advocate for Healthy Families of Clallam County on July 9.
The goal is distribute the dolls to children who have come to the agency in crisis.
“They come from bad situations,” Trowbridge said, telling the young doll makers about the recipients of their creations. “Sometimes kids get scared, frustrated. Sometimes they can’t grab their favorite things. This way, they can have a friend with them wherever they go. These kids have a lot going on in their lives. This is going to help them feel really good.”
The dolls include a note with messages such as “This doll has faith in you” along with the name of the doll’s creator.
“We wanted to do a community service project and we knew Healthy Families needed donations,” Beitzel said.
Soroptimists and the Boys & Girls Club also have partnered on the AIM High Book Club. Youths selected by Boys & Girls Club staff participate in the club with facilitators using a literature kit written to Common Core State Standards. It includes small group activities with an emphasis to increase interest in reading. In July, Soroptimist volunteers helped youths explore the award-winning book “Because of Winn-Dixie,” by Kate DiCamillo. For more about Soroptimist International of Sequim, see www.sisequim.org.
