Local service groups stepping up
Guest opinion
By Kate O'Brien

The Kiwanis Club of Simi Valley recently turned over the keys to a special transport van to the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District- and it reminded me how lucky we are to have so many caring individuals in Simi Valley.

The van, dedicated on Aug. 18 during the Kiwanis annual Lobster Fest at Rancho Tapo Community Park, will be used for transportation for the Alternative Recreation program, as well as to carry senior citizens to various functions.

The van is white at the moment but soon will have some gorgeous artwork recognizable around town. It has awesome handicapped accessibility as well, which will enable us to use it for more functions and increase the quality of life for our citizens with physical challenges.

The great thing is Kiwanis raised $20,000 of the funds to purchase the van. It's easy to forget how important local service organizations are and what a tremendous impact they have on the wellbeing and quality of life here in Simi Valley, and globally as well.

Not only Kiwanis, but also Rotary (where I am a member of the noontime club), and the Amanda McPherson Foundation- which raised funds to help deliver new girls softball fields- do amazing things in our community.

Too often it is way too easy to think, What can one person do? Well, for starters, if you lit one candle, then gathered with others who also lit one candle, enough candles would team to present an amazing light.

Rotary, for example, is busily eradicating polio worldwide. And it all began with a small group of people who were too busy "lighting their candles" to believe just being one person limited their ability to create positive change.

Never forget what anthropologist Margaret Mead said: "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Kate O'Brien is chair of the board of directors of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.