David

 

The District Governor track, District Governor Dave Manzi, District Governor-Elect Sheryl Meehan and District Governor Nominee Dave Gardner have made a minimum of a three year commitment to the initiative. Having this commitment from the three of them allows the committee to actually accomplish something meaningful, sustaining, and impactful and something that could be an example to Rotary Districts throughout the United States, and perhaps the world.

After an amazing tour of the Greater Boston Food Bank, led by Kendra Bird, RD, LDN, Director of Distribution, Services and Nutrition and her staff, the committee joined together to develop a consensus of what it is that Rotary can do to assist in the alleviation of homelessness and hunger in District 7930. The Committee consists of the Governor track, Committee Chair Bob Wood, Joan Arsenault from Ipswich, Malden’s Dave Hart, Sr. Leonore Coan of Ipswich, Corey Jackson and Alyse Barbash from Peabody, Julie LaFontaine from Gloucester, Andy Maddox of Rockport, Greater Boston Food Bank Representative Kendra Bird, and Daniel Weir from Topsfield, Boxford and Middleton. “Why them?” you ask. Because the majority of the participants are either experts in the fields, or have experienced either homelessness or hunger at some stage of their lives. Also on the committee, but not present are Elizabeth Keely from Boston # 7 and Sue Gabriel of Beverly.

It was determined at the April 1st Homelessness and Hunger Initiative Summit, as well as at this meeting, that, at first, the focus of the Initiative should be the education of the Rotarians in our District. Out of the discussion of this came the following mission statement:

This summer, the Chelsea Rotary Club is sponsoring 20 lucky Chelsea students between ages 7 and 15 to an all expense paid week of overnight camp at Camp Rotary in Boxford, MA. Since 1998, the Chelsea Rotary Club has sponsored over 250 children at the overnight camp with the help of many generous community partners. The camp, run by the Lynn Rotary Club, provides all types of positive recreational and other activities for children from different communities. Chelsea children are selected through an essay contest open to all Chelsea children between the ages of 7 and 15.  

A committee of Chelsea Rotary Club members reviews all letters and makes the selection of campers. Pictured with Camp Rotary Executive Director Dr. Richard Cowdell and Chelsea Rotary Club Camp Rotary Committee Chairperson Sue Gallant are some of this year’s lucky campers including Younes Maizut, Manny Andrade, Dimpal Biswa, Luis Rivera, Katherine Acevedo, Katherine Palacios, Paola Gonzalez, Alexander Gutierrez, Henry Martinez, Jullian and Tatiana Hernandez, Misael Goday-Nunex, Rigoberto Murillo, Heidy Jimenez Prado, Emily Espina Miranda and Yelena Hernandez Bonilla. The Chelsea Rotary Club congratulates all the winners of this year’s camp essay contest!