Community Service
Four Avenues of Service
This "Avenue" relates to the activities that Rotarians undertake to improve the quality of life in their community. Particular emphasis is given to helping children, needy families, the aged, the handicapped, and those most in need of assistance. Rotarians strive to promote the ideal of service in their personal, business, and community lives.
From the beginning, Edmond Summit has had a heart for kids! We have helped Sunset Elementary build a library, furnish a media center, and have enjoyed time assisting as volunteers and judges. Al Strecker and his team of greenthumbs have also been seen digging and planting around the Sunset marquis from time to time.
Edmond is home to the Boys Ranch Town community, a marvelous outreach supported by local churches and public donations. Approximately 60 young men are included as our guests for the Saturday morning movie premieres, our annual Pelican Bay swim social, and whenever possible. Just northwest of Edmond is a new facility called Pepper's Ranch, home to another dozen+ struggling young men who just need a nurturing family environment. Each week, Edmond Summit donates a new book in the name of our guest speaker to help increase the Pepper's Ranch library and these youths are also invited to our swim socials and movies.
Without a doubt, HOPE Center has become one of Edmond's shining stars. Founded as a non-profit social service agency in 1984 by the Edmond Women's Club and the Edmond Ministerial Alliance, HOPE Center has provided thousands of area families with vital assistance in times of need. Summit Rotarians recognized the immeasurable value HOPE Center provides to our community and adopted it as an ongoning project. Not only do we spend a Saturday morning each month doing chores and odd-jobs but club members donate time and resources raising funds on its behalf.
In 2003, Summit Rotarians combined club funds with a Rotary District Simplified Grant to help start a wonderful new program, "New Shoes for Back-to-School". Working with local merchants enough funds were provided to buy almost 700 kids a new pair of shoes for the new school year. The program was so well received that, this year, HOPE Center received private donations in excess of $15,000 - enough to purchase nearly 1,500 pairs of shoes for qualifying children.
Additionally, the Hope Health Clinic provides prenatal services as well as immunizations and limited healthcare to qualified women and infants. As of July '05, the clinic's state funding ceased and presents a challenge for ongoing services. Our Summit Foundation has provided funds in the past and we are presently exploring ways in which Rotary might help.
These are just a few of our Community Service projects. There have been Chili-Suppers, Crab Boils, cookouts, Habitat For Humanity projects and others. As individuals, our impact is limited. But together, as Edmond Summit Rotarians, we believe that we can accomplish great things. The motto is "Service Above Self"; but the goal is to truly make a difference.
From the beginning, Edmond Summit has had a heart for kids! We have helped Sunset Elementary build a library, furnish a media center, and have enjoyed time assisting as volunteers and judges. Al Strecker and his team of greenthumbs have also been seen digging and planting around the Sunset marquis from time to time.
Edmond is home to the Boys Ranch Town community, a marvelous outreach supported by local churches and public donations. Approximately 60 young men are included as our guests for the Saturday morning movie premieres, our annual Pelican Bay swim social, and whenever possible. Just northwest of Edmond is a new facility called Pepper's Ranch, home to another dozen+ struggling young men who just need a nurturing family environment. Each week, Edmond Summit donates a new book in the name of our guest speaker to help increase the Pepper's Ranch library and these youths are also invited to our swim socials and movies.
Without a doubt, HOPE Center has become one of Edmond's shining stars. Founded as a non-profit social service agency in 1984 by the Edmond Women's Club and the Edmond Ministerial Alliance, HOPE Center has provided thousands of area families with vital assistance in times of need. Summit Rotarians recognized the immeasurable value HOPE Center provides to our community and adopted it as an ongoning project. Not only do we spend a Saturday morning each month doing chores and odd-jobs but club members donate time and resources raising funds on its behalf.
In 2003, Summit Rotarians combined club funds with a Rotary District Simplified Grant to help start a wonderful new program, "New Shoes for Back-to-School". Working with local merchants enough funds were provided to buy almost 700 kids a new pair of shoes for the new school year. The program was so well received that, this year, HOPE Center received private donations in excess of $15,000 - enough to purchase nearly 1,500 pairs of shoes for qualifying children.
Additionally, the Hope Health Clinic provides prenatal services as well as immunizations and limited healthcare to qualified women and infants. As of July '05, the clinic's state funding ceased and presents a challenge for ongoing services. Our Summit Foundation has provided funds in the past and we are presently exploring ways in which Rotary might help.
These are just a few of our Community Service projects. There have been Chili-Suppers, Crab Boils, cookouts, Habitat For Humanity projects and others. As individuals, our impact is limited. But together, as Edmond Summit Rotarians, we believe that we can accomplish great things. The motto is "Service Above Self"; but the goal is to truly make a difference.