For some families, providing everyday necessities for children can be a difficult thing. But one local group is aiming to change that.
For more than 20 years, the Pueblo Optimist Club has been supporting South Tucson children with warm meals, clothes and school supplies.
“Our motto is ‘bringing out the best in kids,’ and we try to do that here everyday,” says club member Esthermarie Hillman. “We strive to make South Tucson a better place.”
Based out of Pueblo Magnet High School and comprised of about 80 local members, the club aims to help kids stay on track and stay in school by providing them with essentials for their wellbeing.
Besides their club in South Tucson, Optimist International works globally with more than 2,900 chapters. Hillman, who in the past has served as president of the Tucson chapter, is in line to become the next regional vice president of the Optimists in the west, where she will oversee the operations of clubs in states from Alaska to Arizona. But she says she won’t forget her home city.
“My heart and soul will always be down here with the people of Tucson,” she says.
Hillman says last year the club collected and handed out more than 800 backpacks stuffed with supplies to a number of schools across the South Tucson area, including Mission View, Ochoa, and Maldonado. The club also hosted events at Oktoberfest last fall at Hi Corbett Field and gift-wrapping parties on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, to raise money.
“We raise donations and collect items like pens, pencils, paper, protractors—things like that they need in class—and put them all in backpacks to distribute,” says Ed Lopez, program chairman for the Optimists.
“Essentially we get wish lists from schools who need these things, and it’s our job to go out there and collect them,” he says as he stands in front of a huge pile of almost 50 boxes filled with school supplies.
The club also collects easy-to-obtain food items like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to give to kids of the community, as well as hygiene items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste.
The Optimists also sponsor ice cream programs at local schools, where kids are awarded the frozen treats for good behavior and outstanding academic performance.
“It’s a fun little way for us to promote these kids to try hard and do well in school,” says club member Jose Ortiz.
Lopez collects and stores many of these items and delivers them out of his own store, a small t-shirt embroidery shop called the Gizmo Factory that he owns and operates with his wife of 45 years.
What some may consider a chore Lopez considers a pleasure, as he has been working with the club on and off for about 15 years.
“Just seeing the joy in those little faces makes it all worth it to me,” he says.
Hillman says her favorite time of year is the Christmas season when the club gets to help a large group of families pay for food, clothing and useful items like pots and pans.
“Every year at Christmas we help out about 35 families in South Tucson with their expenses that, without us, they wouldn’t likely be able to afford,” Hillman says.
“We basically shop year round for this stuff,” she says. “If I see a bunch of cheap shirts or sweatshirts I’ll buy them up and we’ll send them out in a U-Haul truck we rent. Everyone is appreciative and we’re happy to do it.”
The optimists are always looking for help, Hillman says. Ed Canett, club member and district executive of the Boy Scouts of America, agrees.
“The desire to help others is always there for youths and their parents,” he says. “It’s just a matter of getting them to actually go out and volunteer.”
To learn more about volunteering with the club or to make a donation, contact Hillman at 991-0100 or attend one of the club’s weekly meetings held Thursday mornings at 7 a.m. at Micha’s Restaurant, 2908 S. Fourth Ave.
For some families, providing everyday necessities for children can be a difficult thing. But one local group is aiming to change that.
For more than 20 years, the Pueblo Optimist Club has been supporting South Tucson children with warm meals, clothes and school supplies.
“Our motto is ‘bringing out the best in kids,’ and we try to do that here everyday,” says club member Esthermarie Hillman. “We strive to make South Tucson a better place.”
Based out of Pueblo Magnet High School and comprised of about 80 local members, the club aims to help kids stay on track and stay in school by providing them with essentials for their wellbeing.
Besides their club in South Tucson, Optimist International works globally with more than 2,900 chapters. Hillman, who in the past has served as president of the Tucson chapter, is in line to become the next regional vice president of the Optimists in the west, where she will oversee the operations of clubs in states from Alaska to Arizona. But she says she won’t forget her home city.
“My heart and soul will always be down here with the people of Tucson,” she says.
Hillman says last year the club collected and handed out more than 800 backpacks stuffed with supplies to a number of schools across the South Tucson area, including Mission View, Ochoa, and Maldonado. The club also hosted events at Oktoberfest last fall at Hi Corbett Field and gift-wrapping parties on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, to raise money.
“We raise donations and collect items like pens, pencils, paper, protractors—things like that they need in class—and put them all in backpacks to distribute,” says Ed Lopez, program chairman for the Optimists.
“Essentially we get wish lists from schools who need these things, and it’s our job to go out there and collect them,” he says as he stands in front of a huge pile of almost 50 boxes filled with school supplies.
The club also collects easy-to-obtain food items like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to give to kids of the community, as well as hygiene items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste.
The Optimists also sponsor ice cream programs at local schools, where kids are awarded the frozen treats for good behavior and outstanding academic performance.
“It’s a fun little way for us to promote these kids to try hard and do well in school,” says club member Jose Ortiz.
Lopez collects and stores many of these items and delivers them out of his own store, a small t-shirt embroidery shop called the Gizmo Factory that he owns and operates with his wife of 45 years.
What some may consider a chore Lopez considers a pleasure, as he has been working with the club on and off for about 15 years.“Just seeing the joy in those little faces makes it all worth it to me,” he says.
Hillman says her favorite time of year is the Christmas season when the club gets to help a large group of families pay for food, clothing and useful items like pots and pans.
“Every year at Christmas we help out about 35 families in South Tucson with their expenses that, without us, they wouldn’t likely be able to afford,” Hillman says.“We basically shop year round for this stuff,” she says. “If I see a bunch of cheap shirts or sweatshirts I’ll buy them up and we’ll send them out in a U-Haul truck we rent. Everyone is appreciative and we’re happy to do it.”
The optimists are always looking for help, Hillman says. Ed Canett, club member and district executive of the Boy Scouts of America, agrees.
“The desire to help others is always there for youths and their parents,” he says. “It’s just a matter of getting them to actually go out and volunteer.”
To learn more about volunteering with the club or to make a donation, contact Hillman at 991-0100 or attend one of the club’s weekly meetings held Thursday mornings at 7 a.m. at Micha’s Restaurant, 2908 S. Fourth Ave.
