Community service is a core tenet of Rotary clubs, an opportunity for members to undertake local projects and activities that improve the quality of life where they live. Rotary founder Paul Harris emphasized the importance of giving back to others. He believed it had transformative power, asserting: “The only way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
Columbia-Patuxent Rotarians have often shown the spirit of selflessness and dedication to serving the greater good. This summer, three instances of our community service come to mind:
SANDWHICHES FOR GRASSROOTS – In the months of June, July and August and prior to the regular club meeting at 7:30 a.m. each Friday, a team of volunteers put together 35 bag lunches for delivery to residents at Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center. The team leader bought what’s needed and ran the process. Community service chair Geoff Carton says, “We have such a process in place nowadays that it's finished in 15 minutes to a half-hour, and everybody's back in time for our 7:30 meeting.”
SCHOOL BACKPACK ASSEMBLY AND DISTRIBUTION – Our members purchased school supplies that were collected and stuffed in backpacks for free distribution to students. We assembled 125 backpacks and delivered them to Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS), which coordinated distribution at the Elkridge Library. A total of 618 backpacks were handed out, according to Nette Stokes of LARS.
“I want to express my gratitude for our long-standing partnership in distributing backpacks in Elkridge to support families and children in need within Howard County,” she said. "Your volunteerism and support have been nothing short of exceptional, and it is not taken for granted. With our commitment to reach these vulnerable families, we are making a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve.”
HELP FOR A HOUSING EMERGENCY - Grassroots requested help for a woman who’d lost her job, couldn’t pay rent, and had been living in her car before they took her in. She recently got another job but could not afford the security deposit for new lodging. Grassroots reached out to our club and received $1,000 from the emergency assistance fund.
“Our client moved into her one-bedroom apartment in Baltimore City. She was so happy she was crying,” reported Anna T. Katz, Director of Grants and Support for Grassroots. “Thank you very much for making her new start a reality. Please share our appreciation and good news with everyone at Rotary. Those ‘happy dollars’ made our client very happy today.”
Perhaps Paul Harris had such examples as these in mind when he proclaimed: “I believe that the spirit of service can redeem the world.”
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