RCSL volunteers and Strong Foundation kiddos and teachers who assembled PBJ and books bags
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) Rotarians—People of Action—were busy volunteering during Arizona Rotary Week of Service, April 16-24. The Rotarians met at the Chandler Strong Foundations Academy Center of Excellence, to assemble 70 bags of peanut butter, jelly, crackers, and books. Approximately 10 kiddos in the 3-5 age range from the school’s preschool, kindergarten, and pre-K, assisted the Rotarians. The goods collected to fill the bags were donated by Strong Foundations students/families and RCSL members. The money for the books was donated by individual RCSL members. The bags and extra food goods were brought to Chandler Care Center to be distributed to kiddos in the summer, for snacking and reading.
Strong Foundations Academy is an early childhood school with an accelerated curriculum for children ages 3-5. Established in 1995, the Chandler CARE Center, a community organization run by the Chandler Unified School District, is a school-based family resource center providing access to medical, dental, counseling, and social services. Most services are free of charge to families, thanks to the many funders, professionals, and service organizations, such as the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes, contributing financially and volunteering their services.
RCSL members also supported the Welcome To America Project (WTAP) by going to the WTAP’s warehouse in Tempe to help with different projects in the warehouse. A group of RCSL Rotarians joined other Valley volunteers in packing items for refugee families. The items of furniture and household items will be delivered, as well as a warm welcome, to new refugee families on Saturday mornings. Additionally, a group of RCSL Rotarians helped to repair bikes for refugees. Bikes mean greater freedom for refugees to get to jobs/education and connect with the community.
The Welcome To America Project shares transportation, technology, and transformational resources to enhance success so that refugees do not just resettle in our country—they find community and flourish. WTAP creates impacts that last a lifetime for the refugees as well as the volunteers, such as Rotary Club of Sun Lakes Rotarians, who serve.
For more information about Rotary Club of Sun Lakes membership and community service projects, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.