More than 140 Bellflower Unified Students Received Free Eye Exams Through The Rotary Club of Bellflower.
The Rotary Club of Bellflower saw the need for vision care in our low-income communities and began to address it. With our Partners, Vision to Learn (a nonprofit organization providing vision services to children in low-income communities) and Caring Connections (a nonprofit dedicated to helping meet the needs of children and families in the BUSD), we selected the largest Title 1 school in the Bellflower Unified School District (Washington Elementary). We jointly pre-screened the children. Our Club then donated the money to bring VTL to Bellflower.
During the Week of March 30th, 2015, One of Vision to Learn's Mobil Labs and staff came to Washington. They examined 146 children and prescribed to 103 kids! That is over 100 children whose lives are going to be forever changed!
Join Rotary Club of Bellflower...Be A Part of 1.2 million Folks Changing Lives Into Tomorrow!!!
Couldn't show all the folks we shared Our GREAT "Day of Service"
with at Bel Tooren Villa Convalescent Hospital in Bellflower.
Our Day of Service went wonderfully at Bel Tooren. We bought oils, puzzle books & pens, lap blankets, luminaries, nonslip socks, cologne & perfume, yes...even a Cowboy Hat, used as prizes and gifts for about twenty folks. We played games, talked, and listened. Their Care Nurse, Edna said they never had so much fun or had prizes given at game time before. It finally came time for them to go. We gave them gifts they could use and said so-long for now. I can't express the joy we had giving of ourselves to others today.We will be back to fulfill some special requests and get to know these folks even better.
Today was our Joint Meeting with the Rotary Club of Lakewood.
Pallavi Ridout led our program.
We had many honored guests with us today. Linda Zastrow with her niece Billie Jean, President Valarie Frost with many members from the Rotary Club of Lakewood, and Pallavi Ridout.
We presented Linda with a Plaque to Memorialize the $1000.00 Perpetual Scholarship Fund we set up in Bill Zastrow's name. What a great Rotarian with almost forty-seven years of perfect attendance. We will miss him dearly.
Pallavi Ridout engaged us in a program entitled: "Is the Great Generational Divide Slowing Down Rotary Success?" Pallavi gave us nuggets about genders and generations while pointing out what it looks like to get stuck in the past. She then asked us to step out of our "boundaries boxes" and come up with new ideas our club should try. I am tasked with scanning them into the computer and getting them out to both Her and Valarie. We will debrief them and discuss the results with our clubs.
Vocational Service Director Dave Romberg looks on as our
Art Contestant Jordan Jennings displays his photo art.
Jordan and our other Art Contestant Jazmin Goodinez(who could not be present today) are both from Bellflower High School. We had four Speech Contestants: Elaine Yau from Bellflower High School, Sydney Herman, Rosa Chavez, and Eduardo Torres, all from Mayfair High School. Lyn Thompson, Mike Herman, Teri Smith, and Letonia Jennings were here with the students.
The Art Contest was close between Jordan's Thought Provoking Picture and Jazmin's Beautiful Collage. In the end it was Jordan who won the $250.00 and a trip to compete at the district.
Speech was very difficult to judge. All four speakers were so different in delivery and content. By the closest of margins it was Elaine Yau that won the $250.00 and her trip to compete at the district.
One of the premier events that link Rotarians with high school students is this Art, Dance, Music, and Speech Contest. This year Loyola Marymount University will be hosting the 5280 District Event.
"The Rebel Reverend: American Revolution Hero James Caldwell"
That true story was our meeting today!
Craig MacDonald eloquently related this story to us. The great-great-great-great grandson of Rev. James and Hannah Caldwell. Craig is the author of many historical novels including this, his latest. Download the recording if you were not there.
Jessie Alejandre demonstrated and told us about
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Co.
Jessie told us how Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Co. started in the
home of Herbert Hyman in 1963. Great customer service and
product quality were his hallmarks. She brought us samples of
four very different teas to sample. We had a great Q&A and
came away with new knowledge about coffee and teas.
Today Nichole McGahey and Renett Banagas told us about a
Wonderful Organization - Caring Connections!
Caring Connections brings together many service organizations to help
families in need.
Some of the services provided include:
Academic Support Programs
Mental Health Services
Basic Needs (such as food and clothing)
Vision, Dental, and Health Services
Health Insurance Enrollment
Transportation Assistance
Parenting Education
And Special Programs
Last school year, Caring Connections touched
the lives of over 11200 families. More than
4,000 individual services were provided to
students and families.
148 Academic Support Services
407 Mental Health Services
109 Vision Service
800 Food and Clothing Needs
582 Holiday Food Baskets
429 Backpacks
457 Easter Baskets
We are lucky to have such a great organization to work with!
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