It was "pasta night" at Paz de Cristo on April 24th, with RigaTony's providing the main course, salad and baked Italian garlic bread. Here are the members of Gilbert Rotary who helped prepare and serve dinners for our guests in Mesa. Chrissy, the owner of RigaTony's on Warner Rd. in Chandler, and director of operations at Paz on this night, is shown second-to-left in the back row. Volunteers from other organizations were there also. Paz serves a hot meal to the needy in Mesa 365 days a year (366 this year), along with other vital services, such as counseling, mail service, hot showers and hygiene kits. Gilbert Rotary serves there every other month, alternating with Midwest Food Bank, and other various charitable activities focused on health, education and youth.
Congratulations to Zitlalic Noemi Portillo, from the Warner & Shirley Gabel Branch Club, who was recently named 2023 Youth of the Year from among all the clubs in the Valley. Click here
https://www.bgcaz.org/cye/ to read more and listen to the interviews and watch the selection take place. She will speak at the Today's Kids Tomorrow's Stars banquet and compete for Arizona State Youth of the Year.
The Gilbert Rotary Club has long been a strong supporter of the Gilbert Branch of BGCAZ and often volunteers at youth events and fundraisers to support its activities.
Gilbert Rotarians in their yellow work shirts (provided to each new member) were out in force for the meal in December, 2022. We serve there every other month to benefit those in need of a hot meal and a smile. We prepare the meal, serve the meal and clean up the kitchen and dining room, all in about three hours time. Our 220 or so guests always appreciate what we do. Paz de Cristo operates 365 nights a year, and provides many services, mostly with volunteer help.
As part of the Rotary Week of Service, Rotary Clubs from Mesa and Gilbert gathered April 17th to assemble hygiene kits for the homeless guests of Paz de Cristo. Shown here are those who assembled 1300 kits in just over an hour, and then delivered them to Paz de Cristo. It was fun to get together again, see old friends, make new friends and help the needy in our community. Special thanks to Diana and Cori, who chaired the event in Gilbert. It was really well organized! Please click "more" to see photos of the event.
The ongoing pandemic and high unemployment rates have found more people without a home. Your donation will provide funds needed to purchase items for 100 Helping Hands Kits and 200 Paz de Cristo Shower Kits this Spring. Club members will be donating their time assembling and distributing the kits to the homeless in our community. Please help us reach our goal of $1500.00 +. The Rotary Club of Gilbert thanks you for your financial contribution.
For more information on our project: https://sites.google.com/view/rotary-club-of-gilbert-helping/home
Donate today: https://paypal.me/pools/c/8xzQnsMEky
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Ten of us came together on Saturday for service at Midwest Food Bank. We helped prepare snack bags to boost the nutrition of young people during these trying times. There were dozens of volunteers from local nonprofits. Barbeque afterward served by the youngsters. Service Above Self. Making a difference in our community.
Thanks to President Debe, Toyin, Jim, Pat, George, Mike and Curt for preparing and serving a delicious hot meal to over 160 people last evening at Paz de Cristo in Mesa. Paz serves meals to the less fortunate in our community every night of the year; with only a few paid staff, it relies on volunteers to do the work. Under COVID conditions, the meals were packaged inside and delivered outside, where folks could eat while properly spaced, or take the meals away in a vehicle. Pulled roast beef sandwiches, brown rice, green beans and peach slices seemed popular. Sack lunches were also available for people who might not be eating again soon. It is a great program, one that Gilbert Rotary Club has long supported. We also met the new Executive Director at Paz, Joe Tansill, who has been involved in public service for many years as a medical director. Welcome aboard Joe, we will see you again!
The Gilbert Rotary Club turned 39 on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, having formed on that date in 1984. Rotary first came to Arizona in 1914, upon the formation of Phoenix 100 Rotary Club. There are now 68 clubs just in our District 5495, all creating lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves. Ask us how you, too, can join the 1.25 million Rotarians world-wide who put service above self.
Having Fun Helping Others
Suite 1
Gilbert, AZ 85297
United States of America