$1,000 check delivered to Estes Valley Crisis Advocates (EVCA):
Since our Club donated $500 in Projects funds to EVCA, which they used for a much-needed computer for their safe house My Sister's Place, we qualified for a 2 for 1 matching grant from District Rotary. Thank Jack for applying for a matching grant which was approved. On Thursday, October 19, Jack and Beth delivered the check to EVCA Executive Director Diana David Brown and Safehouse Director Kathy Park. Diana emailed saying, "Thank you and the Rotary once again for this fabulous and generous donation. We were able to work it to attain all of our goals to provide new bedding and towels for each resident as well as protective pillow covers for 12 new pillows, and infant towels and washcloths... (we) express our deepest appreciation. This is so exciting!"
May Rodriguez, Crisis Advocate; Beth Weisberg;
Jack Boatman; and Kathy Park,
Safehouse Coordinator/SA Advocate.
88th Annual Pumpkin Distribution at Estes Park Elementary School
On October 19 with beautiful, sunny warm weather, Club member Sue Fereday drove her truck and trailer loaded with 520 pumpkins from the Safeway into the Estes Park Elementary School parking lot, and 22 happy volunteers set up a "pumpkin patch" in front of the school. It was hard to tell who was smiling more: the 11 members of our Club who helped unload and set out the pumpkins in long rows; or the 10 Youth in Action students from Estes Park High School (including our Rotary exchange student, Lucia) who came to help out; or the Events Center employee new to Town who read about the upcoming event in the Spoke and volunteered to help; or the teachers as they brought out their classes of kindergartners to 5th graders; or the elementary students themselves as they saw all of the pumpkins and were told they could pick out any one they wanted -- or a neighbor who came over from her house across from the school to tell us how much she enjoys watching all of this every year, Safeway Foundation donated all of the pumpkins, and Safeway managers Jared and Aaron worked with Beth in advance to be sure they were ready for pickup. It was a true "takes a village" event, with many of the high school students and even the adults (including our own Club member, Andrea Escorcia) fondly remembering pumpkin giveaway day from when they attended Estes Park Elementary themselves. This is the 88th annual pumpkin distribution in Estes Park. The event began in 1936 with former Estes Park Mayor Ron Brodie, who owned Brodie's Supermarket and was a Rotarian. After Brodie's death, the Rotary Club of Estes Park took over the pumpkin distribution and has been doing it ever since.
Rotarians & Youth In Action students
setting up a pumpkin patch
Bill Smith, Wayne Newsom, Gregg Jurgens, Dennis Gellhaus
Lucy Miano, Mike Connelly, Andrea Escorcia Rodriquez
setting up pumpkin patch
Wayne Newsom & Mike Connelly
waiting for school children to
come get their pumpkins
Bright Christmas Collection Can will go around this Week
Our club will be adopting a large family for the holidays through Bright Christmas again this year, This is being funded from member donations as far as possible. Once we have our family assignment we will be able to purchase specific items from the family's wish list. But while we're waiting for that, we have begun passing a collection can around during our noon meetings. Annie provided and decorated the can, and Gregg added a label with the Bright Christmas logo. It was supposed to go around the room last week but somehow it got stuck and didn't make it to everyone. So,this week please contribute whatever you wish by cash or check, and then pass the can along to the next table. Checks should be made payable to Rotary Club of Estes Park (not Foundation). Gregg is handling all the money during the collection phase. Please note that if checks are made payable to Bright Christmas or donated for the Foundation charitable match, that money will go to benefit Bright Christmas (which is an incredible organization doing wonderful work), but will not be usable for our Club's adopted family.
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