Service above self is especially important to during the holiday season. The Rotary “Christmas Baskets” program exemplifies this.
Over the past few weeks, many Traverse City club members helped bring holiday cheer to local families in need.
Tuesday’s noon meeting presented the impact, and told some of the stories, of this important community program.
Co-chairs
Steve Wade and
Dan Rickard provided a recap and insight.
“There’s so much good that happens under the radar screen,” Steve said. That positive effect on the community was detailed in both the big numbers and powerful stories.
What does it take to create such an impact?
Over $7,500 was collected along with gifts from local businesses.
This was distributed to help 59 families, the most ever, who were “adopted” by the Traverse City Rotary to receive gifts, food and necessary items for the holidays, Dan said.
That’s 236 people, and of that total, 146 were local children directly helped by this program.
Forty-five shoppers took on the rewarding task of purchasing items with funds collected from club members, and delivered them, along with gifts provided by local businesses.
Three of those shoppers told their personal stories.
Lorraine Beers, Cindy Ruzak, and Matthew Turek talked about their, and each family’s, experience participating in the Christmas Baskets program.
“This is the best part about being a Rotarian, because it reminds me that Christmas… is about really helping out. Really working together.” Lorraine said.
Her experience included an additional good deed from an unexpected source. While shopping at Macy’s, she was asked if she was a Rotarian. The clerk at the store, also a hairdresser, then offered to provide the mother of the family a free haircut “in the spirit of Christmas.”
Cindy has participated for several years, and found this year “the most meaningful of all.” She was to provide a Christmas basket for a young, single mom.
When Cindy asked if the family wanted toys, clothing, and other items, the conversation turned to food needs for Christmas dinner. Cindy found that their oven wasn’t working. She called Max’s Appliance in Traverse City, and they offered to give the family a new one.
Now with a working oven at the home, Cindy wanted to get the family a complete turkey dinner. Maxbauer’s was the next stop. The new owner provided the turkey, and other food for a great holiday meal.
She noted how it feels to have so many people in the community contribute to the cause. “It all keeps coming back and paying forward… and I am just so happy to be part of this program!”
Matthew shared his story of a mother of three, with one on the way. She only wanted to make sure the “kids have something fun.” When he delivered the gifts, she asked him to take some of her family’s gently used clothes, and books and toys the kids outgrew, and donate them to those in need. “It truly was a season of giving,” Matthew said.
Other kudos for participation in the Christmas Basket program were given to Autumn Soltysiak. She decided to forego cash from the organization and provided a family with donated food, clothing, and more, all contributed by local businesses. Sheri Fenton’s family and friends gathered donations on their own to help a local family. President Dale Chilcote was also acknowledged for his continued participation and efforts.
It was like an early New Year’s celebration, as Chris Peregrine led the group in rousing renditions singing “Auld Lang Syne”, and “Happy Days Are Here Again”.
The job is simple – once a month or so you take your turn telling fellow Rotarians what happened at the weekly meeting.
Rotary Club of Traverse City
