Community Forum Addresses "Spirit of Giving"

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Commissioner Santamaria

Invited speakers included (l-r) Rabbi Bertram Kieffer of Temple Beth Zion in Royal Palm Beach, Randy Pfeiffer of the Wellington Rotary Club, Nadine White-Boyd, first-vice president of Caribbean-American Friendship for Community Involvement (CAFCI), Assistant County Administrator Jon Van Arnam and Diana Stanley, executive director of The Lord's Place.

About 50 western communities residents attended the gathering.

Rosa Durando of the Sierra Club said service organizations are a great way to make a difference in the community.

Commissioner Jess Santamaria held his monthly community forum on November 17 at the original Wellington Mall. The topic was “the spirit of giving” and featured a series of speakers representing government social services, religious organizations, and charitable foundations.

Commissioner Santamaria explained there were many opportunities to donate money or food or to volunteer one’s time to worthy local causes. He said it was especially important this holiday season to think about what each of us can do to help out a neighbor, a homeless person, an elderly person who lives alone, or someone who has recently lost their job.

Guest speakers included Rabbi Bertram Kieffer of Temple Beth Zion in Royal Palm Beach, Randy Pfeiffer of the Wellington Rotary Club, Nadine White-Boyd, first-vice president of Caribbean-American Friendship for Community Involvement (CAFCI), Assistant County Administrator Jon Van Arnam, Diana Stanley, executive director of the Lord’s Place, and Rosa Durando and Drew Martin of the Sierra Club.