We thank all the volunteers who gave and are giving generously of their time on service projects this Rotary Year. Work on our ongoing service projects continues, and we thank all who have stepped up to help coordinate these activities and especially Ken Gilmore, our Community Services Director for the 2024-2025 Rotary Year.
May 17 Bed Building Volunteer Opportunity
Thanks to Judith Pensoneau-Feuer, Vicki Megginson, John Webb for volunteering to build beds on May 17.
Stocking our Little Libraries
Allison Montney (onedirtymartini@gmail.com) is coordinating the stocking of Little Libraries. We previously built five Little Libraries and installed them at localities in Springfield with a support from a District Club Grant.We routinely stock books at three of these locations:
Ridgely Elementary School (image on left, 2040 North 8th Street),
Springfield Firehouse No. 5 "The first Black Fire House" (image below, 1310 East Adams Street), and
St. John's Breadline (430 North 5th Street).
Through Dave Fowler's efforts we previously secured a large number of books that were donated by a group in St. Louis. The books are stored in the Computer Banc warehouse. To keep the books up-to-date, we have requested that club members bring in books to supplement the donated books stored in the Computer Banc warehouse. Contact Allison if you would like to donate books and/or stock Little Libraries.
Thanks to Allison coordinating this project and ensuring that these little libraries are well stocked. Let her know if you would like to help.
Stocking of the Ridgely School Micropantry
Please sign up for a shift to stock the Micropantry at Ridgely Elementary School (our adopted school). Allison Montney is coordinating the stocking of this micropantry with food, cleaning, and toiletry items. She maintains a schedule of volunteers to stock the pantry for a two week period. If you would like to volunteer to stock this important and regularly used pantry, please let Allison know (onedirtymartini@gmail.com). Check out her article on micropantry volunteers for more information on this service project.
Flags are Deployed for 2025!
The flag service committee announced that in 2025, we will only have one deployment of the flags before Memorial Day and one retrieval after the Commemoration of September 11. Flag Service deployment for Memorial Day was completed in time to celebrate Memorial Day on May 23! Contact John Loftus for information on how to volunteer for this important service project and fundraiser. Project activities, such as buying supplies and repairing flags, take place throughout the year. The proceeds from this project helped support the community grant awards announced in this Newsletter. Contact John Loftus (jlloftus@aol.com) if you would like to volunteer.
John Montgomery Memorial Citrus Campaign
The 2024 John Montgomery Memorial Citrus Drive is over! Bill Smith launched the campaign in September and provided background on the outstanding Rotarian that the campaign is dedicated to. Thanks to all members for participating in the 2024 campaign! The proceeds from the Citrus Sale supported the community grants described in this Newsletter. We will launch our 2025 campaign this fall! If you would like to volunteer for the citrus committee, let Marty Michelson know (exdirector@rutledgeyouthfoundation.com).
