Mandi Southwick, a beloved Santaquin resident, is always going out of her way to uplift and serve others. She especially enjoys supporting local first responders. In late 2024, Southwick came up with the idea to hold a fundraiser for the Santaquin Police Department. The goal of the fundraiser was to raise enough money to send the department to Washington D.C. this May to honor Sergeant Hooser at the Fallen Officer Memorial Service. Thanks to generous local businesses and community members, the fundraiser achieved its goal.
Southwick, who is also the owner/manager of FiiZ on Santaquin Main Street. She said she loves putting a smile on the face of anyone who comes through her drive-through. And when she’s not busy running a business, Southwick dedicates much of her time to serving others. She has loved and served her way into the hearts of many locals – especially those in the first responder community.
Southwick’s most recent service project was an ambitious one. Her goal was to throw a fundraiser that could generate enough money to send the entire Santaquin Police Department to Washington D.C. this month. She’d never thrown a fundraiser before, so she reached out to some trusted friends for help, including local musician Cody Robbins.
With help from many willing and talented hands, Southwick’s humble fundraiser idea soon grew to become a large and successful benefit auction and concert that was held this past February.
“I put a team together and we were able to raise all of the money for the police department to go to the Fallen Officer Memorial for Sergeant Hooser,” she recalled. “It was very humbling. It was neat to see the community – especially the businesses – come together and raise the money for them to go.”
Sergeant Hooser of the Santaquin Police Department was tragically killed in the line of duty on May 5, 2024. And, during National Police Week, which is this coming May, Sergeant Hooser’s name will be engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
When asked if she has any other fundraisers or large service projects in the works, Southwick said that nothing is on the horizon, but that she is always willing to serve where and when she can, adding that serving others helps her maintain balance in her sometimes hectic life.
“(I’m not working on anything) at the moment, but give me a little while to rest from this latest one and I’m sure something else will come up,” Southwick said. “My thing is, if you’re in a position to serve, why wouldn’t you? I know it comes hard for other people, and that’s totally OK. However, if you feel like you can, do it. Step up. Somebody has to be the example.”
Southwick wants her fellow community members to know that you don’t have to do something big like hosting a fundraiser to improve the lives of those around you.
“I think some people think it has to be this huge act of kindness; it really doesn’t,” she said. “Just a smile at the drive through or a ‘how’s your day?’ is really all it takes to kind of trickle everything down to make someone’s day a little brighter. Simply treat others how you would like to be treated and you will change the world.”
