PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 25, 2022 Popular CASA speaker series returns CASA of Marion County will resume the Light of Hope speaker series after having to pause for the past two years. This fundraiser will held at the Salem Convention Center, May 14 at 6 pm and will feature author Stefanie Land. Stefanie is the author of the best- seller, Maid. Her story was also turned into a Netflix series by the same name. The series broke Netflix records as the #1 most watched with over 67 million accounts watching in the first 28 days of its release. Stefanie, will share her story, which is one of hard work, perseverance, struggle, and a will to survive. Her story is of a woman who wanted to leave behind her hometown in the Pacific Northwest to head to college and become a writer. Her plans and dreams were sidelined when she ended up pregnant. Stefanie began working in housekeeping to provide for her and her daughter, while experienc- ing firsthand the struggles of navigating the systems in place to support those in poverty. Stefanie’s story will provide hope, but not without sharing the reali- ties of a single parent, without support and resources, trying to create a different life for her own child. In her book, she also shares what it was like to serve the upper-middle class in America and how it made her feel like a nameless ghost. CASA of Marion County, through its volunteers, advocates for abused and neglected children who need safe and permanent homes. With a CASA volun- teer, a child is half as likely to languish in the foster care and child welfare system, and that much more likely to find a safe permanent home. Stefanie shares her story to help give an awareness of the government systems in place and the difficulty to navigate them. Her story compliments CASA’s mission to be a voice for children in care. Tickets are currently on sale for this event and may be purchased at casamar- ionor.org. Tickets are $45 per person or a table of ten for $400. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, contact Shaney Starr at CASA of Marion County for more information. Local company honored for work with cancer patients Since 2018, Salem-Keizer's Serenity Cleaning Services has supported 30 can- cer patients with a total donated value of $8,174 in cleanings. The company has been recognized by Cleaning for a Reason as a Top 10 Cleaning Partner for most cancer patients served in 2021. “Quite a few years back, I had an employee whose mom was battling breast cancer for the third time and feeling very depressed over her inability to keep up her home,” said Brenda Oleman, owner and founder of Serenity Cleaning Services. “Myself and several other employees spent an afternoon clean- ing for her—what a sparkle it brought to her eyes. You could see her whole spirit brighten; and oh, how that blessed us as “I feel it a privilege to be trusted in peoples’ homes and private spaces,” said Oleman. “I also feel honored and obligated to provide meaningful jobs and joyful workplaces to my staff. I also believe that to whom much is given, much is required. We have been blessed and want to bless others. We feel hon- ored to serve cancer patients and their families in their hour of need.” Serenity Cleaning Services, LLC remains committed to helping cancer patients through their partnership with Cleaning for a Reason, a nonprofit pro- viding free home cleanings to house- holds battling cancer. brainfood sudoku answers pg A22 sudoku well. She eventually lost her battle, but I have never forgotten how blessed we all were in doing what seemed like such a small and simple thing to us. “When I read about Cleaning for a Reason years ago, that whole experience came flooding back and I knew immedi- ately that this was something I wanted Serenity Cleaning Services to do as just one way of giving back.” In partnership with Cleaning for a Reason, Serenity Cleaning Services supports cancer patients in Salem by cleaning up to five homes per month for two consecutive months at no charge. Serenity Cleaning Services is the only company in Marion and Polk counties that partners with Cleaning for a Reason. Enter digits 1-9 into blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, & every 3x3 square. maze by Jonathan Graf of Keizer BRIAN & APRIL McVAY 503.510.6827 - Call or Text anytime Sam Goesch Ins Agcy Inc As lifelong residents, we are your Keizer neighbor. We know this market and we are here to help! Sam Goesch CLU, Agent Enjoying real estate since 1998 3975 River Rd N • Suite 3 • Keizer Oregon Licensed Real Estate Brokers 3975 River Road N - Keizer, OR Bus: 503-393-6252 - Web: SamGoesch.com State Farm , Bloomington, IL (1211999)