Making a list and checking it twice. That’s the mission of Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks and its merry band of shopping elves this holiday season.
Partnering for the second consecutive year with Sedona Oak Creek School Unified School District and its Winter Wishes project, Red Rocks Rotary is providing much needed items for ten students selected by the district to be in the program.
This year’s students that Red Rocks Rotarians will be shopping for range in age from pre-kindergarten to tenth grade. The boys and girls each complete a “wish-list” for the school district that includes clothing, shoes, an item for school use and a personal item. Wanted items included sneakers, backpacks, water bottles, toys and mechanical pencils.
Stacy Smith the SOCUSD Registrar and coordinator of the Winter Wishes program received the initial two gift bags packed with items furnished by the Rotary club on December 11. Smith expressed appreciation for the continued partnership with Red Rocks Rotary.
Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks established its own holiday gifting program in 2012. Every year since, Red Rocks Rotary has worked with other local charitable organizations to identify individuals, families and seniors in need during the holidays. The club has furnished everything from clothing to household items, gasoline gift cards, toys, items for sports and pet food. Seniors have received socks, blankets, yard clean-up and housekeeping services.
Red Rocks Rotary treasurer Donna Hawk said that the club has spent an average of $2,800 per year on the program for the past 13 years. “The funds have come from both the club’s fund-raising efforts and from contributions from the individual club members. It’s always one of our favorite annual ways of giving back to those in need in our community”.
Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks chartered as a club in March 2002. It principally focuses its efforts on supporting local youth-oriented projects and programs that include RYLA (a Rotary sponsored leadership camp for students), vocational scholarships for graduating high school seniors, back-to-school backpacks, school supplies and Teacher of the Year awards that recognize Sedona’s exceptional educators.
Stacy Smith of SOCUSD (below) receives two of the Red Rocks Rotary supplied gift bags on December 11.
