Leona Valley Sertoma

Making A Difference through Service To Mankind

volunteering

April Rock of Leona Valley

Community Matters

April and Luna
April and Luna Rock giving back

Hi, I’m April Rock and this is my daughter Luna. We are honored to be part of the Sertoma mission! You are invited to contact me so I may tell you why Sertoma Rocks!

I always considered myself a city girl until my amazing 9-year-old daughter and I moved to Leona Valley.  What an incredible town!  Even when living a fast-paced corporate city life, Luna and I always made certain to stay involved. Connecting in every community we are part of provides us with a deeper understanding for that community. For this reason, it was only natural to get plugged into Leona Valley and Sertoma, just made sense.

Creativity & Entrepreneurship

Previously, I have volunteered as a Girl Scout troop leader for two years. I have even filled a lead role for the nonprofit NextUp, planning community events for a network of executive women in San Francisco.  I have played in a kickball league and, a roller derby league. In fact, before relocating I was elected the PTA Vice President of Luna’s school.

My number one focus is to be a mom.  And since moving to Leona Valley, I have dug deeper into my creativity and am currently building a steel fabrication and stained-glass design business. Additionally, I just started my own YouTube Channel called “Sunday Sips & Salads” where I pair wine and create a nice, delicious salad. Tune in to check it out, I’d love to hear what you think!

Even though most everything in my life has changed within the last year, I continue to follow my passion and support the community. As an active member of the Leona Valley Sertoma chapter, I have met the kindest men and women working together to achieve a common goal. I am absolutely thrilled to have been trusted by them to manage a variety of responsibilities. Among a favorite is being empowered to communicate the heart-felt need to be part of something bigger than myself.  I am here, where I am supposed to be, helping out this amazing community.

April Rock & Luna’s Swap

Trading in my heels and business suits for Carhart and Cowboy boots, public transit for dirt roads and city lights for stars has been the best decision we have ever made. Sometimes when life hands you lemons you make the sweetest and best tasting lemonade you’ve ever had.  It’s nice to be home. 😊

2017 St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

The 2017 St. Patrick’s Day Dinner

It was another beautiful day in the Leona Valley and, being March 17th, to be wearing Green. It was also a good idea to be at the Leona Valley Community Building for the annual Leona Valley Sertoma St. Patrick’s Day Dinner. This annual fundraiser has become a favorite of the community and brings out many community members to enjoy an afternoon of food and good times with neighbors and friends. Jan Clark stated it was the best Leona Valley Sertoma St. Patrick’s Day Dinner EVER with almost two hundred very hungry folks served. They enjoyed a traditional Irish meal of corned beef and cabbage along with great selection of desserts and a bar featuring Irish Coffee; plus, what can only be described as truly perfect weather.

These photographs give you just a hint of the preparation, the anticipation, and the good times enjoyed by all in attendance.

 

Leona Valley Sertoma has been serving the Leona Valley and surrounding Lakes and Valleys communities since its beginnings back in December of 1997. For those not familiar with Sertoma, the word is taken from the phrase “Service To Mankind” and that is exactly what the members of the Leona Valley Sertoma strive to do. Make no doubt about it, this part of Los Angeles County truly deserves to be called paradise and the people who live here know how fortunate they are to live in such a beautiful place. Perhaps that is why the people around here are so friendly and seemingly always smiling.Of course, just like anywhere else there are people in need, or some person, place or thing, that could use a little help in one way or another, and helping is what Sertoma is all about. Leona Valley Sertoma has a proud history of involvement in the community, whether it is helping someone enduring a hardship, or stepping up to help make a community improvement project a reality. (To find more to read about, click the “Home” button in the navigation menu at the top of the page.)

If you are interested in learning more about Sertoma, why not attend a breakfast meeting to see it for yourself. You’ll find the members are a warm, welcoming group ready to share their enthusiasm for being a part of making their communities a better place to live, to raise families, and to make friends. Leona Valley Sertoma meets at 8:00am, on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month at Jack’s Place, on 90th Street West, in Leona Valley, California.

Sharing is a Learned Characteristic.

Leona Valley Garage Sale Kids donate to Sertoma.

Opportunities to teach children to share happen every day and Saturday, September 26, 2015, was no exception. Shirley Kraft, secretary of the Leona Valley Sertoma, had the good fortune to have her grandchildren with her during the Leona Valley Community Garage Sale and she took the opportunity to explain to them how honorable it would be to share a portion of their sales proceeds with a nonprofit organization. The kids agreed and chose to present Beverly Brownfield with a check for $10.00 to go in to the Leona Valley Sertoma general fund.

The Leona Valley Community Garage Sale is an annual event that gets people out and shopping with their neighbors. It’s an event Alice Kravitz would love as it gives her the freedom to snoop for bargains and one-of-a-kind items that her neighbors have decided they can live without. Of course, it all serves a good purpose, as it is a fundraiser put on by the Leona Valley Community Town Council.

Shirley Kraft understands the importance of giving back, not only financially, but through volunteering and participating in the events and the organizations available in the community. Shirley is providing the kind of lessons that help build character and great citizens. We are truly honored that Shirley is a member of Leona Valley Sertoma and how she is actively involved in making a difference in her community and in the lives of her grandchildren.

Well done, Shirley!

Pictured L to R: Ray Mullins, Owen Spencer (4), Beverly Brownfield, Jan Clark, Jackson Spencer (10), and Madeleine Spencer (7). Photo by Shirley Kraft.