Special Christmas Deliveries!
For the 37th consecutive year, current and former Portland Rotary Club members are dedicating their Christmas Day morning to deliver hot dinners to 90 homebound seniors in the Greater Portland area who will be alone on the holiday.
Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAAA) started the collaboration with the Portland Rotary Club back in 1978 when our respective offices were both in the State Theater building. SMAAA took on the Christmas Day Meals on Wheels (MOW) deliveries in Portland for the Salvation Army, so that the Army officers could attend to other Christmas ceremonies. (The "Army" ran the program in the City at that time; SMAAA operated MOW throughout the rest of Cumberland and York counties, so they had the kitchen, food, and delivery trucks already in place for Christmas morning). Current Rotarians Bob Traill, Joe Gray, Austin Harris, and John Houghton were among the original volunteers. John Houghton and his family have been volunteering every Christmas morning since. John's children are now bringing their children to help deliver meals!
Other current and former Rotarians helping this year include Bruce Moore, Jan Chapman, Laura Young, Brian Hughes, Mark Rajotte, and former Club President Fred Thompson. Past Christmas morning volunteers have included current Club members (and their families): Jon Young, Philip Rhinelander, Joel Gratwick, Tom Talbott, Dave Putnam, John Marr, and Mike Fortunato. If we’ve left anyone out, please forgive our oversight.
Due to this steadfast and dedicated corps of volunteers, the need is not there to recruit additional members from within the Club. Many members may not be aware of the Club's strong connection to this very heartwarming, nearly four-decades long, annual event.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Larry Gross at 232-1619 or lgross@smaaa.org.
Merry Christmas to all!