Carolyn Larsen of Sun Lakes greets a scholarship student at the Valley Bloom Thrift Shop.
Sarah Auffret
An emergency request came to Carolyn Larsen recently: A teenage student at East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) had run short of tuition money and faced dropping out of her cosmetology program. The student, only months from graduation, had been in foster care and had no family to help her.
Carolyn, a Sun Lakes resident and co-chair of the Scholarship program for Valley Bloom, swung into action. She tapped into the charity’s funds and arranged for a check to cover the shortfall.
Valley Bloom is known for providing new school clothing for almost 8,000 East Valley children in need each year. What is not so widely known is their expanding Scholarship program. Their funds are helping support 16 students through the first two years of college, including five homeless teenagers who managed to graduate from high school in Chandler.
This year they have established a fund for young adults who have aged out of the foster care system and are living in the Hope Tech residence at East Valley Institute of Technology. Most of the students are in career preparation programs such as plumbing, welding, cosmetology, HVAC, and collision repair. The extra funds cover the cost of equipment, uniforms, certifications, tools, and other supplies.
“Your support is truly changing lives,” said Derrick McCoy, director of the Foster Residential program at EVIT. “Your generosity has been instrumental in our residents’ academic journey, providing crucial assistance that makes a profound impact on their lives.”
Sun Lakes residents make up a large core of the membership of Valley Bloom, an all-volunteer organization that operates an upscale Thrift Shop at 2326 N. Alma School Road in Chandler. Larsen joined the organization a few years ago after retiring from teaching once she realized their goals were close to her heart.
“Valley Bloom gives me the opportunity to help students and their families in so many ways,” she said. “I love interviewing the students, listening to their stories, and following their successes. There are so many wonderful students who want to go to college or trade school but need some assistance to make their goals a reality. Being able to help the student graduate from her cosmetology program was a great feeling after she had worked so hard.”
Valley Bloom, formerly called Assistance League of East Valley, also provides urgent supplies for 500 homeless teens in Chandler and Gilbert school districts, 4,000 assault survivor kits for distribution through 10 agencies, and monthly adult enrichment programs at Tempe Adult Day Care.
The popular Thrift Shop carries boutique fashions, sportswear, books, household items, toys, children’s clothing, tools, and other items. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
Besides the Thrift Shop, support comes from grants and donations. New members are welcome, as are donated items for the shop. A fundraising fashion show and luncheon, Runway for Hope, will be held March 28, 2026. Sponsorships are needed.
For more information, visit www.valleybloom.org.