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A year of life has been turned inside out and upside down, and we all look forward to once again sharing time with family and friends. Our Morning Star Rotary club and its board have been zooming regularly, and together we have helped the community and beyond with $11,000+ in grants and hands-on assistance: - TJ Elementary with $1,500 in grocery gift cards.
- Holiday Hope Chest – members donated wrapped shoeboxes filled with gifts for underprivileged children.
- Our Hartmann-Hansen Grant of $4,000 went to Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers for a playground.
- Audrey Rafferty Education Fund grants of $1,500.
- $1,578 for at least 5 Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering dinners/breakfasts and lunches (includes a donation to help with their extra costs for deal with COVID-19).
- Rotary International’s PolioPlus $1,500.
- ShelterBox $1,500 to help those affected by natural disasters and manmade conflict.
However, we were unable to hold any of our 3 annual fundraisers – the Celtic Classic 5K, the Salute the Troops Concert, and the Spaghetti Dinner. Over many months the Board brainstormed concert options , from a virtual performance to an outdoor venue with distanced seating, to moving the date from November to May. Alternate spaghetti dinner locations were investigated. Other online fundraising options were explored. Unfortunately, none of these worked out. Many thanks to members who have donated!!! Through March the total is just over $4,000. However, the shortfall in fundraising has caused our Charitable Account bank balance to decline significantly, and no donation has been given to Victory House yet this year. We ask your support to allow us to help more. Family comes first, of course – if money is tight, please take care of them. If finances allow, please think about what would have been spent on Rotary (weekly meetings, concert tickets, spaghetti dinner tickets, etc.) and donate as you are able. In addition, if you know others who would have participated in any of our events (tickets, ads, Patron/In Honor Of listings, race runners), please consider asking them to help. Two ways to donate If desired, you can specify which project or event you are supporting. BY CHECK payable to “Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Charitable Org.” - tax deductible since it’s a 501(c)3. For your donation to count in the 2020-21 Rotary year, please submit by May 31 Thank you in advance for your consideration and help. Morning Star Rotary Board of Directors |
