Mermaids of CL help Helping Hands

BY Aprile McKinnon

Mermaids of Canyon Lake presented a check in the amount of $1,500 to the local non-profit organization Helping Hands at its general meeting last week. Helping Hands, a local volunteer organization, made a presentation at the Mermaids meeting about the need to help senior citizens in the area.

The organization has a call center and a dedicated team of volunteers of 300 who provide assistance to those in need. Volunteers pack groceries at the distribution center on the second Saturday of each month. Anyone who wishes to join can do so as long as there is space at the facility, which is limited due to its capacity restraints. Helping Hands provides for 2,000 single seniors each month.

There are approximately 5,000 single seniors in the area who Helping Hands serves. These individuals reside in Canyon Lake, Temecula, Murrieta, Perris, Wildomar, Menifee and Lake Elsinore. Because of the high cost of living expenses and the fact that many seniors are on a fixed income, there is a real local need. Helping Hands is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of those they serve, they said at the Mermaids meeting. The group is focused on community service and works hard to inspire others to join its cause and make a difference. Mermaids of Canyon Lake is one of the clubs that helps Helping Hands to help others.

Kim Pauley receives the mermaid tiara for being the first member of the Mermaids of Canyon Lake to complete the 20 volunteer hours each member of the group commits to each year. She has already logged 33 service hours. Photo provided Lyne Hall

Mermaids of Canyon Lake will hold its next general meeting on July 10 at the Canyon Lake Senior Center. The club only meets every quarter for those who are interested in giving back to the community but might have limited time.

Mermaids members commit to annually providing 20 volunteer hours. Those hours can come from a variety of causes, including participating in the service of other clubs in the community.

The first woman to complete her 20 hours of volunteer service this year was new member Kim Pauley, who already has logged 33 hours of service. Kim was presented with the Mermaid tiara for her service. Fran Tibbet was the first to volunteer 20 hours in 2022.

The Mermaids of Canyon Lake will host its next fundraiser on April 29 when it puts on the 2nd annual Derby Day. In true Derby Day fashion, members will dress in their fancy derby day dress and fanciest of hats. The event will feature a hat contest along with a boxed lunch and derby day drinks like the Mint Julep.

Women will be taken in boats to watch the derby take place. The derby is a chaotic race of men in canoes as they battle a course of buoys to the finish line. Women cheer for who they think will win. There are limited seats, and there are just a few tickets left.

The Mermaid Tea is another Mermaids of Canyon Lake popular event. Ladies dress in mermaid costumes  for a chance to win the costume contest. The tea takes place on Aug. 5. This year‘s chair for the Mermaid Tea is Natassia Wright. For more information on becoming a member of the Mermaids of Canyon Lake or joining an event, contact Nicole Taylor at coleynat21@gmail.com.