Recipients of Soroptimist International Tahoe Sierra’s 2016 community grants. Photo/LTN

Students sleeping in cars, kids in need of a winter coat, food for the weekend. Those are some of the basic needs that aren’t being met on the South Shore. The extras, like being able to take a dance or tennis lesson, to have performing arts in their school – those are also hard to come by.

These needs and wants will be better met thanks to Soroptimist International Tahoe Sierra. Today the service club handed out $13,000 to 22 recipients.

At the March 24 breakfast meeting representatives from each entity talked about how they are going to spend the grant. They are:

·      Bijou Community School – Books to promote literacy.

·      El Dorado County Habitat for Humanity-A Brush with Kindness – Paint, tools and supplies.

·      Firefly Yoga – Provide yoga for those who have sustained a traumatic event.

·      Juvenile Services Council – To continue drumbeat program.

·      Kiwanis Coats for Kids – More than 600 coats were bought this winter for youth.

·      Lake Tahoe Shining Stars – Dance scholarships.

·      Lake Tahoe Unified School District-Homeless Advocacy – Bus passes for homeless to get to appointments.

·      South Lake Tahoe Cancer League – Financial grants to those with cancer.

·      South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center – Community garden at Bijou.

·      South Lake Tahoe Humane Society – Books for My Reading Buddy program.

·      South Tahoe High Booster Club – Money to help stock room with food and clothing for teens in need.

·      STHS Avid Junior Class – Money to send kids on college scouting trip.

·      Tahoe Arts Project – Bringing performing arts to the schools.

·      Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless – Money for shower vouchers at South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center.

·      Tahoe Magic – Money for Tahoe Smiles, which provides dental care to youth.

·      Tahoe Turning Point – Gym passes at Kahle Community Center and buying sports equipment.

·      Tahoe Valley Elementary School – Equipment for performing arts programs; and separate grant for reading materials; and a grant to take kids to Sutter Fort.

·      Zephyr Cove Tennis Club Foundation – Scholarships for junior tennis program, expansion of program and to purchase equipment for kids to use.

The money for the grants comes from SITS’ annual Elegant Evening fundraiser. This year’s event is April 23 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report