Posted by Terri VandeWiele

Rotarians are a resilient and creative group of people that value service above self. The East Moline/Silvis Rotarians are no exception and have been busy during the month of December, giving back to the community and spreading holiday cheer. 

The annual Coats for Kids project donated 270 coats to students in seven different elementary school and childcare centers in East Moline and Silvis. One Silvis grandmother expressed how grateful she was to have these coats because she is currently helping to care for her grandchildren. Due to the pandemic, the parents of her grandchildren were unemployed, which required them to move in with her. She shared that the three coats the club gave to her grandkids helped to ease the financial pressure she was experiencing this year.

Many senior citizens living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, or that are homebound, are feeling very secluded because of the pandemic. The club decided to select ten Hope Creek Nursing Home residents from their Angel Tree.  Four different Rotarians purchased gifts for the ten residents and delivered them to the nursing home on Tuesday, December 15. We wanted to be sure that the employees working at Hope Creek Nursing Home knew they were appreciated, so poinsettias and treats were purchased and delivered the same day the gifts were delivered. 

Home Instead has an annual, Santa for a Senior program, so our club asked to serve as Santa to five of their seniors.  Gift cards and small gifts were purchased for these seniors to help brighten their holiday. Additionally, Whitey’s ice cream and poinsettias were donated to the residents and employees at Illini Restorative Care and Crosstown Square in Silvis and pizzas from Frank’s Pizza in Silvis were donated to healthcare workers at Illini Hospital in Silvis. 

In all, the club donated $8522.00 in coats for East Moline children, gifts for senior citizens in our area, and pizza and treats for healthcare workers.