2022

Welcome to Chapter 66!

Chapter 66 is comprised of 3 clubs including the Phoenix Thunderbird Club, So Arizona Combined Club (SACC) and the New Mexico Club (along with our members at large throughout AZ and NM).  Through the last few years, we have been keeping everyone informed to what our Chapter and local Pioneer clubs are doing by using e-mails, newsletters, Facebook and mailings. Our members have found this type of communication very useful. Below is a brief overview of what our clubs have been up to and how they have been continuing to serves our communities even during these difficult times.

Phoenix Thunderbird Club
Over 1600 Hug-A-Bears were delivered in 2021 to several locations and, so far in 2022, 320 bears have been delivered to Valleywise Medical Center. These bears make their way into children’s hands to give them some comfort in stressful times – whether it’s a first day of school or a family emergency. Thank you to our dedicated Hug-A-Bears team! Visit our Webpage!

As of today, our club has donated a total of 92 t-shirts for the veterans at CLC! The CLC is a living center where Veterans may stay for a short time or, in rare instances, for the rest of their life. It is a place where Veterans can receive various areas of care including nursing home level of care, and skilled nursing and medical care, restorative care, palliative care, and hospice care.

So Arizona Combined Club (SACC)
In 2020 and 2021, we continued supporting the children of the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind by creating the Easter baskets and delivering them to the school. Staff there handed out the baskets.  Our school supply and scholarship projects went on, along with Hug-A-Bears, lap robes, Seeds for the Bees, Military collections, Soft goods fundraising, and luggage for clients of the Emerge! Domestic Violence Center.  We were able to give books to needy and deserving 2^nd and 3^rd graders, again delivering the zip lock bagged books to the schools.  These and other projects have kept the spirit of Pioneering alive and well.  The past two years have really been a proving ground for the resilience of Pioneering.  We are looking forward to having a productive year in 2022, starting with our luncheons picnic style at the park. We are continuing our projects such as Hug-A-Bears, Lap Robes, Emerge!, School Supplies just to name a few. You can keep up with all our current and future projects by visiting us on our Facebook page or our webpage!

New Mexico Club
These last few years we could not have a party, so we did gifts instead. For each child about $50 was spent from grants, club funds and donations. Each child got a hand decorated ornament, candy and present(s). The 46 children at the Christian Children’s Home, Baptist Home and Hope Children’s Center will be very happy to be remembered this Christmas.  We are looking forward to continuing our work in the communities we call home. Visit our webpage for more information!

Barbara Palmer