THATCHER — April’s Graham County Chamber of Commerce Soiree was less a business mixer and more a sharing of information from area service organizations.
Representatives from the Graham County Health Department, United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, EAC’s Small Business Development Center, the Ocotillo Collective, Eastern Arizona Historical Society and Museum, Safford Downtown Association and Great Communities Resource Center all shared updates on various events and projects currently underway.
The soiree was hosted by Eastern Arizona College in the Hoopes Activity Center on Thursday, April 6.
The highlight of the evening was the honoring or Clare Santas, an Americorps Vista volunteer working with the United Way and the Health Department on finding solutions to the Gila Valley’s food and mental health needs.
“She has been given some difficult challenges that started from the very beginning, and she has not shied away or backed down or at all,” said Jennifer Labrum, who consults with the Health Department on mental health issues.
Graham County Supervisor Paul David presented Santas with a copy of the book, “Hellraisers and Trailblazers, the Real Women of the Wild West” to take with her when she travels to her new home in Minneapolis.
Because of the work Santas has done, she has agreed to an additional three-month contract to work remotely for the Health Department.
“She’s made our community better, but she’s also made us better ourselves, too,” said the Health Department’s Rosa Contreras.
The Chamber hosts a soiree for Chamber members on the first Thursday of each month.
