Northern California’s 50 Chapters escalated their volunteer service and charitable donations last year. In the last four months of 2011 alone, the northern half of the state’s 50 Chapters donated $19,205.61 to worthy causes. “This is the highest amount of any trimester in the last seven years and exceeded what was given in 2010,” reports Northern California Good Sam Director Duane Maddox.
All told, Northern California Chapters donated to 33 charities in the last trimester of 2011, with the major recipients being Ronald McDonald House ($2,600), Shelter Network ($2,200), Shriners Hospital ($1,800), Humboldt County Children’s Services ($1,500), Salvation Army ($1,400), Dogs for the Deaf ($1,350) and Second Harvest Food Bank ($1,300). The region’s three biggest contributors in 2011 were the Square Samers Chapter ($6,514), the Golden Empire Sams ($5,321) and the Good Sam Mateans ($4,106).
In the lower half of the Golden State, Southern California’s 47 Good Sam Chapters also ramped up their role as good Samaritans. Last December, Chapter members supported the San Diego East County Salvation Army Toy Drive with nearly $2,000 worth of new bikes, toys and games among the donations. Sams Radio Hams members came to the Chapter’s holiday campout bearing contributions for Dogs for the Deaf, the Rig Runners Chapter provided children’s gifts to the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots drive, and the Coastal Cruisers collected toys for a local family shelter, House of Ruth.
At Southern California’s upcoming Samboree, members will pool their aluminum pull-tabs to donate to Ronald McDonald House and host raffles and craft booths to raise money for other charitable causes. “Chapters like the Sequoia Sams, Rollin’ Singles, Jewel Jipsies, Sam’s Radio Hams, OutHousers, Centurians and Past Presidents have already stepped forward to help make this 40th Samboree a success,” confirms Southern California Good Sam Director Jo Ann Yett.
If you live in California and would like to join a Good Sam Chapter, visit socalgoodsam.org or norcalgoodsam.org. You can also find information and registration forms for the state’s two spring Samborees online:
Southern California “Land of Oz” Samboree
April 12 – 15
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, Lancaster, California
Northern California “Out of This World” Samboree
April 26 – 29
Lodi Grape Festival Grounds, Lodi, California
California Good Sam Chapters aren’t the only ones making a difference in their communities. Members are making a difference all over the continent.