Community Projects

1988 - Our club partnered with the Chariton Kiwanis Club in purchasing chairs for the Johnson Auditorium.

1988 - Our club co-sponsored with other organizations in the community to help build the Arboretum on the Southgate lot.

1992 - 2014 Our club did Highway Clean Up in the spring and fall.

1994 - Rotarian's helped the Johnson Foundation install the steel fence at Yocom Park.

1995 - An announcement was made to the Rotary Club of Chariton that a challenge grant had been offered by AAL branch #7998 of Trinity Lutheran Church to match up to $700 for a money raising event for the Arts Council.  On Friday, July 14, 1995, starting at 5:30 p.m., the Rotary Club of Chariton, in cooperation with the Lucas County Arts Council, provided the meal at Yocom Park for the public. The menu was sweet corn, Pella bologna, and watermelon. 

1996 - Rotarians helped install seats at the Movie Theatre.

1997 - Our club received a District 6000 Community Service Award for raising over $10,000 in a year for the Movie Theater.

1998 -  Rotarians assisted in the laying of the bricks at Constitution Park.

1998 -1999 Our club contributed over $12,000 for the Gazebo project, located on the court house lawn, through various fundraisers - including a Las Vegas raffle night.

2000 -  Rotarian's helped with the construction of the Gazebo.

2001 - The Literacy program was started and easels were made by the following Rotarian's: Wayne Fletcher, Tim Hamer & Jim Fuller

2002 -  Our club received a Rotary Community Assistance Grant for $1,000 for a Disc Golf project at Northwest Park

2002 - Our club committed $25,000 over 3 years (2002-2005) to the Girls Softball Complex at Northwest Park for a Centennial Project celebrating  Rotary International's 100th Anniversary

2003 - Our club gave take home books to the first graders in our school system.

2004 - A District Simplified Grant was received for $1,500 which our club matched for reading materials for K-3 grade children. The Chariton club gave $475.25 for Read to Me books and bags for the Kindergarten children (90 books on different professions for the 2nd grade & 90 books on how math is used in the real world for 3rd grade)  Rotarian's read weekly to the 1st graders at Columbus School.

2004 - The Disc Golf project was completed at Northwest Park.  The signs were made by Tracy Hall & Disc Golf was installed by Rotary members & their families

2005 - 2013  Our club started giving dictionaries to 3rd graders at Van Allen.

2004 - Our club received a District Simplified Grant for $3,500 for concession equipment for the Girls Softball Complex which was matched by our club.

2005 - Our club received a District Simplified Grant for $3,750 for fencing of two extra fields at the Girls Softball Complex which was matched by our club.  Rotarian's helped install the fencing.

2006 - Our club received a donation of $5,250 by anonymous Rotarians to complete our $25,000 commitment to the Girls Softball Complex.

2009 - Our club donated $5,000 to the Crisis Center which was matched by a District Simplified Grant for $5,000 to provide food for needy families.  The Crisis Center provided NEST articles such as car seats, cribs, strollers to needy children under the age of three. 

2010 -  Our club donated $5,000 for mental health and substance abuse treatment to those residents of Chariton and Lucas County who do not have insurance or other form of payment which was matched by a District Simplified Grant.  The program will run through the Lucas County Health Center's Counseling Services and will provide therapy, treatment, psychiatric consultations, and medication to approximately 150 individuals who do not have health insurance.

2011 - The Food Bank of Iowa partnered with our club to implement the Backpack Buddies program to ease the hunger of students in need by providing them with easy-to-prepare food during the weekend when they lack access to free or reduced-price lunches.  Our club partnered with Chariton High School Splash students to help with packing the food each month.  Rotarians delivered 80 bags of food each week to Columbus & Van Allen schools.  Our club received a District Simplified Grant for $3750 and we contributed $5000 that we received from a Prairie Meadows Grant for a total of $8750 to the Food Bank of Iowa.

2012, 2013 - The Food Bank of Iowa received $5,000 from the Coons Foundation for the Backpack Buddies program for Columbus and Van Allen elementary schools.  

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 - The Food Bank of Iowa received $5000 from an anonymous donor to continue the Backpack Program.  In 2017 the Food Bank of Iowa received $7500 from our anonymous donor for the Backpack Program.

2013 - Since 2013  Rotary Trivia night has been successful.
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2014 - Our club gave $225 to Parents as Teachers for books for a family literacy program for parents and children ages 2-6.

2014 - Our club gave $550 for lights on Milledge Field.

2014 - Our club gave $825 for the District Project called "Operation Warm". (part paid by the club & part by members)  Approximately 50 coats were delivered to Chariton for needy citizens of Lucas County.

2014 - Our club gave out 50 flash drives for Back to School Night.  Rotary contributed $200 with a match from Lucas County Child Abuse Council.

2015 - Our club contributed $2888.72 matched with a District Community Service Grant $2987.00 for a total of $5875.72 to provide computer and work stations at the Chariton Public Library.  Rotarians offered their services to assist library clients with online job applications and resume preparation.

2016 - Since 2016 Rotarians work at the Food Pantry the last Tuesday of the month.

2018 - Our club contributed $500 to Public Health for the Lucas County coat  project from Trivia Night revenue.

2018 - A donation of $2,700 was made to the City of Chariton from the Jason Dent event for the improvement to the disc golf course at Northwest Park.

2018 - We received a Community Grant from The Rotary Foundation for $2,000 which our club matched  to make Halferty Park handicap accessible in partnerhip with the City of Chariton, Kiwanis and Community 1st Credit Union for a total of $10,600. 

2019 - "Protect our Children" metal signs with the Rotary emblem  were  made by the Hy-Vee sign shop and placed near the schools.