Rotary manages multiple service projects despite pandemic restrictions

November 20, 2020  |  By Tami Bass

Community members drop off turkeys, bags of food, and even checks by pulling vehicles up curbside and handing off to Rotary Club volunteers (including author Tami Bass, center) at the recent Food Shelf Turkey Drive. Others walked and even jogged up to chip in. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti

To the community: 

The Waterbury Rotary Club has been busy as possible despite the pandemic as it works within COVID-19 guidelines. 

Here’s an update on some of the projects completed this year. 

Each spring our club distributes dictionaries to third graders in local schools. This was a challenge last spring because students were not in school. With the help of Thatcher Brook Primary School art teacher M.K. Monley and former principal and Rotarian Don Schneider, we distributed the books this fall.

The goal is to assist students in becoming good writers, active readers, creative thinkers, and resourceful learners at the point where educators say they are making the transition from learning to read and reading to learn. Since 1995, over 31 million children across the U.S. have received dictionaries from this Rotary effort. 

More recently, Waterbury Rotarians assisted Revitalizing Waterbury with hanging holiday garlands and lights downtown. Soon they will light up the village and our spirits. Next Rotarians will be decorating Rusty Parker Park for the holiday season. 

In early July, the club received a matching district grant to help the Waterbury Area Food Shelf. Grant funds purchased a computer and monitor, a vacuum, shelving, and a refrigerator to improve the overall safety and efficiency at the food shelf.  

The fridge/freezer was delivered just in time for the food shelf’s annual turkey drive last weekend. With the Macy's-day-like giant turkey inflated, Rotarians volunteered to assist with curbside drop-off, helping collect over 100 turkeys, good and cash donations. 

Our club meets via zoom each week. Anyone interested in Rotary can contact us through our Facebook page: Facebook.com/waterburyvtrotary. Keep healthy and happy, and be kind.

Tami Bass

For the Waterbury Rotary Club