The Soroptimist International of Rancho Cordova and Gold River Club participated in the City of Rancho Cordova’s Spring Service Day on May 17. Photo courtesy of Soroptimist International of Rancho Cordova and Gold River

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Soroptimist International of Rancho Cordova and Gold River Club participated in the City of Rancho Cordova’s Spring Service Day on May 17 to stuff 200 Comfort Kits, 200 Comfort Kid Kits and 200 backpacks full of school supplies, along with about 10 community volunteers.

A Comfort Kit is a zippered heavy duty tote bag filled with a 30-day supply of personal hygiene items and lightweight blanket to be given to domestic violence and trafficking survivors.

A Comfort Kid Kit is a drawstring backpack containing toys, a stuffed animal, activity books with crayons, reading book, toothbrush, toothpaste and other personal care items to be given to the children that domestic violence survivors bring with them to the safe house.

The Comfort Kits and Comfort Kid Kits were donated to the Sacramento Family Justice Center and the Rancho Cordova Police Department for distribution. The backpacks filled with supplies for secondary-grade students were given to the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Families in Transition student liaison for distribution.

Comfort Kits and Comfort Kid Kits were donated to the Sacramento Family Justice Center and the Rancho Cordova Police Department for distribution. Photo courtesy of Soroptimist International of Rancho Cordova and Gold River Club

“We had the Larry Canfield Community Room reserved for four hours. Thanks to club member Susan Nickelson’s organizational skill and the hard work of all our volunteers, we managed to stuff all 600 total bags in just under two hours. It was a thing to behold,” said Vice-President Sheryl Longsworth.

The Rancho Cordova Police Department agreed to give a Comfort Kit and Comfort Kid Kit, if needed, to survivors when they go out on domestic violence service calls. The club gratefully continued its distribution partnership with the Sacramento Family Justice Center from last year to distribute Comfort Kits again.

To learn more about the Sacramento Family Justice Center’s domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking survivors, and elder and child abuse resources services it provides, visit online sacramentofjc.org/services.

Soroptimist is an international nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. The name, Soroptimist, means "best for women," and that's what the organization strives to achieve. Soroptimists work to help other women be their best. To receive more information about Soroptimist International of Rancho Cordova and Gold River Club, how to become a member or how to volunteer, email soroptimistranchocordova.org, call club Vice-President Sheryl Longsworth at 916-833-1218 or visit soroptimistranchocordova.org.