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By Lou Eldrige
Gamma Kappa Master chapter of Beta Sigma Phi
Kim Rios was honored as First Lady of The Year by the Humboldt County Council of Beta Sigma Phi at their Fall Brunch and Fashion Show. Kim goes above and beyond the call of duty with her selfless giving and genuine love for others.
Kim was a volunteer at McKinleyvilIe Middle School during the time her two daughters attended the school. From 1990 to 2002, she was hired at the McKinleyville Unified School District as a Community Aide DATE Program and Psych Technician. While in this position, she realized there were children who didn't have enough food, shoes, or clothing. She saw a need in the community to assist the unfortunate and went on a journey to fill the void. She discovered that her talent was knocking on doors and saying "Hi, I'm here to help. What do you need?"
From 2002 to 2007, Kim was the Community Outreach Coordinator for the McKinleyville Community Collaborative and became the Interim Executive Director. She also served as the Resource and Referral agent at Gold Coast Medical Services in Eureka. Currently, Kim spends countless hours assisting families with challenges in their lives that require support and guidance.
Kim created a program to help less fortunate individuals, and receives monetary and material goods from community organizations and private individuals who like to help. Because there was no other place to store things other than her car, no community group was able to secure a free storage unit. So, Kim gathered useful items and distributed them to needy children and adults as the need arises.
In addition to providing physical assistance to many, Kim has offered support, guidance, and education to improve their quality of life. She even picks up and takes clients to doctor appointments, financial institutions, counseling appointments and attends court dates with them.
A number of people she comes in contact with have very little education, and she helps them fill out applications for housing, medical and social service forms. She also helps pregnant mothers by providing baby supplies and information on parenting classes.
Kim works with runaway children and their families by giving them information for counseling, on parenting classes and connecting the children with mentor programs such as Americorps, AFACTR (Assisting Families Access Change Through Resources) and other community volunteers.
Kim has also provided resources and support to blending families. Her dedication to help these individuals takes her from Eureka, north to Orick and east to Willow Creek.
One of her close acquaintances shared this story as an example of her love and dedication to helping others. A little kindergartner showed up at school one day in her mother's nightgown, belted at the waist wearing her mother's high heels. The school alerted Kim who went to the child's house and learned the mother's boyfriend (the children's dad) left and took everything and all the money.
Kim found the mom getting water for the house from a hose through the window and electricity for a lamp with a drop cord that ran from the neighbor's house. The power and water had been shut off. However, the house was very clean. The mom was not able to do laundry, so the little girl wore the only clean clothes she could find to school. Thanks to Kim's caring nature, the family was able to get back on their feet.
Kim Rios has been able to help children adjust from living with one parent to living with the other. With Kim's help, many students and families continue to flourish. We can all see how much good caring for one another accomplishes, especially when it is given with love.
submitted photo
Kim Rios was recently named First Lady of the Year by the Humboldt County Council of Beta Sigma Phi for her volunteering work and for her caring nature.
