Rotary Club of Branchburg (Jul 02, 2021)

The Members of the Rotary Club of Branchburg are proud to share with you the accomplishments of the club in the month of September 2022. We invite you to join us in any of our projects, and to support us by sponsoring or volunteering to help in any upcoming event.

PEDALS FOR PROGRESS, SEWING FOR PEACE

We started the month with a Bicycle and Sewing machine drive, held at the municipal building. The residents of the township and surrounding areas donated 119 bikes and 23 sewing machines. Rotarians broke them down for shipping, and P4P ship them to a developing country to help establish a bike shop to sell and maintain the bikes in an area. The residents use the bikes to travel to work, school, and shopping. The sewing machines allow locals to set up home cottage industries. These "throw away items" here, are life lifting items in other parts of the world.

FOOD DRIVE AT BRANCHBURG SHOP RITE

That same day, we teamed up with the Somerset County Food Bank, and the great people at the Branchburg ShopRite and we collected and delivered 5,393 pounds of food to the Somerset County Food Bank.

The Food bank was especially low in certain staples. The great manager at the Shop Rite working with Rotarian Diane Bonanno put together a mountain of special deals. Shoppers were given a recyclable bag with a shopping list and away we went. Between 8 and 4 the residents of this great township shopped until the Rotarians dropped!!

We thank everyone for being so very generous!

Special shopping set up.

Registration at RVCC

Rotarians volunteering their time to support Veterans suicide prevention programs

Bikers line up to support our Veterans groups. Their show of support and to raise awareness.

Stars and Stripes over the Central Jersey Airport to open the festivities. Breathtaking.

6TH ANNUAL RIDE AND FLY MOTORCYCLE RUN TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS

The following Sunday, the Rotarians joined with: the Dawn Patrol, Horses for Forces, Frontline Arts, Operation Jersey Cares, Welcome Home Vets NJ, Veterans Network of NJ, and the American Motorcycle Association to have our 6th Annual Motorcycle Run. This year the focus was on Veteran Suicide Prevention Programs. We had the assistance of the Somerset County Sheriff's office and many motorcycle clubs and individual riders who enjoyed the 52 mile ride which started at RVCC and ended at the Central Jersey Airport where a banner tower pulled a giant American Flag while Kate Smith sang God Bless America to start the festivities at the airport. There was food, drink, a DJ, dancing and lots of fun. We were able to raise about $100,000 to support our groups and their mission to support NJ Veterans.

BRANCHBURG COUNTRY FAIR

Once again, the Rotary Club of Branchburg Participates in the Country Fair. We provided frisbees for the children, reusable shopping bags to families, and offered a free raffle for a Lego set and a Lottery Ticket basket. Rotarians spent the day meeting face to face with those that we serve on a regular basis, to thank them and to invite them to continue to participate. Thanks to those who planned and participated - another gret event

Great day!

EVERY SUNDAY WE PROVIDE HUNGER RELIEF AT THE BOUND BROOK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Every Sunday even while we are busy elsewhere, we provide food to families who are in need. Each week hundreds of pounds of donated food are distributed to families who come for assistance.

Hunger does not take a week off and neither to the volunteers at the Presbyterian Church or the Branchburg Rotary.

"EVERY DAY WE SHUULD DO A LITTLE MORE THAT WHAT IS REQUIRED"

...Helen Keller.