This is the second publication of this announcement: We are pleased to share that we have received a new member application. Crystal Brown is the Community Marketing Manager of Subway Development ME & Aroma Joes ME & NH, supporting almost 200 stores. She is a graduate of USM with a BS in Sports Medicine and a graduate of SMCC with an Associate’s degree in Diet Tech.
Westbrook Families Feeding Families was founded about 12 years ago by Sue Salisbury and her mother Judy Petrie. At that time, there was a 5 to 7-day gap from school end to the start of the summer lunch program. Their focus was on bringing peanut butter, jelly and bread to summer lunch sites to fill that lunch food gap. That humble start grew to 110 bags delivered to Westbrook’s three elementary schools each week (pre-pandemic) and helping to stock shelves at the WHS and WMS food pantries.
During the Club Assembly on January 19, 2021, President Kathi recapped 2020 - the bad along with the good. We also discussed upcoming activities & action items, approved updated bylaws, and discussed other matters.
Recap of 2020:
On May 2nd we lost Bill Chadwick and on October 21st we lost Nelson Harmon. Both will be greatly missed by all
5 members resigned during 2020, but we have added Mike Fandell and soon will be adding Crystal Brown – Welcome!
Thanks to Zoom, we have had guest speakers from other states and from Brazil!
We held three in-person meetings outdoors – 2 at Riverbank Park & 1 at Shaw Park
Our Golf Tournament was extremely successful, raising over $10K!!
While we may be meeting only via Zoom right now, we continue to donate a new hardcover children's book in honor of each of our speakers. As always, we alternate between the Walker Memorial Library in Westbrook and the Baxter Library in Gorham. Purchase of these books is partially funded by your CLYNK donations, so keep those bottles coming! If you need bags, just contact Christine Johnson.
Recently, Heidi Whelan, Children's Library at the Baxter Memorial Library received a new book. Is 2 A Lot? was presented in honor of then Acting-Chief Kenneth Fickett. He has since been confirmed as the new Chief of Gorham Fire & Rescue. Congratulations Chief!
All events are via Zoom unless otherwise noted. To register for any of these events or to learn more about them, visit the Calendar on the District Website:
District Grants Writing Training – Thursday February 4, 6-7PM - Watch for the meeting link from the District or contact Michele Cole at michele@lboholdings.com for more information.
Sebago Lake Ice Fishing Derby – Saturday & Sunday February 20-21, 2021 – If you are interested in this signature fundraiser of the Sebago Lake Rotary club, visit their website at https://www.icefishingderby.com/cumberland-county-derby
Word Understanding & Peace Event - Tuesday February 23, 2021 6:30-8PM - Hosted by DG Peggy Belanger. More details to follow.
International Service Committee – Thursday February 25, 2021, 1-3PM – If you are interested in the international outreach projects of our district, drop in one of their monthly meetings. Watch for the meeting link in your email or contact DISC Chair Emma Bodwell at ebodwell.icloud.com@clubrunner.email
District Conference - Saturday May 16, 2021 9:00AM-12:00PM
Westbrook Families Feeding Families – This organization has recently acquired new warehouse space. They now has more room to accept donations and to expand their philanthropic work helping local families with schoolchildren. To make a food or cash donation, contact Sue Salisbury at suzanne.salisbury35@gmail.com
The Locker Project - We're back! Most weeks on Thursdays 3-4PM, TLP is holding Free Food Events in the parking lot at 713 Main St, Westbrook. The events are always held outdoors (unless it’s a blizzard!) with masks and social distancing required. If you would like to volunteer any week, contact Christine Johnson. You may also mail a donation to P.O. Box 3134, Portland, ME 04104 or donate on line at http://mainelockerproject.org/ The Locker Project supports 34 program sites across Greater Portland, including Westbrook High & Middle Schools, and Gorham HS.
Donate Blood - If you are healthy and able, please consider donating blood. Supplies remain tight so all donations are very welcome. To schedule an appointment go to https://www.redcrossblood.org/ or call 1-800-RED-CROSS
Meals On Wheels - Many of their regular volunteers are older and self-quarantining. If you are healthy and interested in this low contact option, please email volunteer@smaa.org or leave a message at 207-396-6595. A background check may be required before starting. Or consider making a donation to this program https://www.smaaa.org/wellness/meals.html
Matching Gift Rotary Year 2020-2021 - Don't forget the matching gift opportunity to secure a match for $50 donated to your favorite charity in this Rotary year. If you donate $100 to the charity, you will receive a check for $50 to cover our half. If you recently made a donation to a charity that you would like to have matched, and have not already taken advantage of the matching opportunity, please send a note to our Treasurer Aaron Paiton. Please include a receipt or copy of your check. Special Note: why not take advantage of this opportunity today and donate to one of the organizations noted above or another organization supporting folks in need during this crisis?
Matching Gift up to $100 to The Rotary FoundationRotary Year 2020-2021- Just a reminder that you can double your progress towards your next (or first!) Paul Harris Fellow. Make a donation up to $100 and the club will match that donation in your name. Go online to https://www.rotary.org/en/donate or mail your check to The Rotary Foundation (TRF), 14280 Collections Center Dr., Chicago, IL 60693 Note club name and ID #6319 in the memo section.
Children's Books for Pantries - During this time, we will still continue to collect books for our food pantries and other organizations that can get books into the hands of children. Since the need is always greater than the supply, we will distribute them now, when the opportunity arises and will return to regular distribution when we can. If you, a family member, friend or colleague have children or grandchildren who have outgrown their books, we'd love to have them to share with children who will love them. All ages from babies to young teens. We can also always use large print books for older readers. Contact Christine Johnson for pick up.
Can Tabs for Ronald McDonald House - Thank you for continuing to collect can tabs.It's and easy way to help a wonderful organization! Just keep a small plastic bag or small jar in your kitchen, on the counter or in a drawer. As you go to toss your returnable can into your CLYNK bag, simply twist off the tab first.
CLYNK for Literacy - Ongoing - Don't forget to keep filling those bags to help fund the new children's books we ask our speakers to sign for the Baxter and Walker Libraries. Extra bags are always available at our meetings. While we are not meeting, Christine is willing to drop a bag on your doorstep. Thank you for your ongoing support of this fundraiser!
Donate to our Club's Charity through Amazon Smile – Ongoing - If you order items from Amazon.com, even if not very often, you can help Westbrook Gorham Rotary Club Charities. Go to http://smile.amazon.com/. Search for our Charity and select it. You may need to login to your Amazon account before being able to finalize your selection. Then, when you shop Amazon.com (always starting from http://smile.amazon.com/) a portion of every purchase will be donated to our charity.