It is official—the Christmas season is upon us! I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving and found time to relax with family and friends.
You might think that during the Christmas season we Newark Rotarians would slow down a bit and savor the festivities, but that is certainly not the case! December brings opportunities to support those less fortunate, along with a full month of meaningful meetings and activities.
We have our Annual Meeting on December 4, our Christmas Party on December 11, and the Newark High School Chorus joining us on December 18. Thursdays are always a great opportunity to reconnect with your fellow Rotarians, and this month especially as we look forward to celebrating together. A big thank-you to Lynne Mooney, who is working hard to make our Christmas Party a memorable evening for all.
Don’t Forget
We are still serving with grateful hearts as we support our Fundraising Committee’s Christmas grocery collection. This year, we are filling more bags than ever! Thank you to Jan Hence and her entire committee for their tremendous efforts to provide Christmas food for families in need. Please remember to return your filled bags on December 4th and December 18th.
In addition to highlighting the Fundraising Committee, I also want to recognize our Community Service Committee this month. Under the leadership of Steve Hallagan, the committee has completed—and continues to work on—many meaningful projects. If you haven’t been able to attend our weekly meetings, here’s a snapshot of their ongoing impact:
This year, Community Service supported a wide range of projects, beginning in July with our Food Pantry Food Collection. In August, we provided supplies and cards for Camp Onseyawa, helped at the Camp Carnival, and supported Family Fest. October included donations to the St. Mark’s Baby Closet and our annual Service Above Self recognition. In November, members participated in Salvation Army bell ringing, the Jack Blodgett Memorial Blood Drive, and the High School Winter Coat Collection.
December is another busy month with Christmas grocery tote bags, poinsettias for homebound members, and several grants—including $1,000 to the Food Closet, $2,500 to the Free Lunch Program, and support for Shop with a Cop. Looking ahead, in February we will be supplying Laurel House, followed by March’s Pancake Breakfast and the Clean Water in Mexico initiative. In April, the club will host the Bob Goodman Memorial Blood Drive along with our annual Canal and Route 88 clean-up. In May, thanks to a District Grant, we will welcome author Liz Garton Scanlon, who will provide programs in our local schools.
I am so grateful for everyone’s efforts as we continue to live out Rotary’s core values: Service, Fellowship, Diversity, Integrity, and Leadership. As we move through this Christmas season, I encourage you to pause and remember the reason for the season—the birth of our Savior—and to enjoy time with your family and friends.
