Longmont Rotary Club Projects

Longmont Rotary Club: Projects, Fundraising, Grants

We are People of Action, creating projects, hosting fundraisers, or applying for grants to make a difference in Longmont and neighboring communities, serving the nation and our world is the goal at Longmont Rotary!

The Longmont Rotary club has been in action since 1919. Check out the current (or recently completed) projects listed below which serve as our belief in Service Above Self. Be sure to check out our GRANTS page for current grants in action at our club.

Growing Gardens

For 28 years, Growing Gardens has worked across Boulder County to ensure families in need have access to fresh, organic food while learning to grow their own. As a key partner in Longmont, the organization is seeking support from the Longmont Rotary Club to fund essential equipment and expand operations at the Pratt farm.

Currently, staff spend roughly $4,000 in labor hauling a heavy BCS walk-behind tractor back and forth between Boulder and Longmont, a process that requires four hours and two people each week. Grant funding will allow Growing Gardens to purchase a dedicated BCS tractor for the Longmont site alongside irrigation supplies, compost, pest management low tunnels, and fencing materials. This dedicated equipment will eliminate transport overhead, allowing team members to focus on direct farming and educational outreach.

The investment will expand the Pratt farm's growing space by 33%, generating an additional 4,000 pounds of fresh produce for community donation. Beyond crop yields, the project expands local educational and community programming. Growing Gardens plans to host 12 local teens in paid summer farm jobs, welcome 200 preschool and elementary students on field trips, and engage over 100 participants in volunteer projects and farm events—where Longmont Rotarians volunteer each year.

Led by bilingual staff, including Food Project Manager Tim Villard and Farm Coordinator Yuvi Cambero, Growing Gardens works alongside local partners like the OUR Center and Longmont Food Rescue. Support and hands-on service from Longmont Rotary directly empower local families, strengthen local food security, and foster community connections to the land.

Epic Day of Service

More than 80 community members gathered at the Dickens Farm Nature Area for a meaningful Peace Pole Dedication hosted by Longmont Rotary. The day began with a park cleanup effort in partnership with Twin Peaks Rotary, as volunteers worked together to care for our local natural space and demonstrate Service Above Self.

Following the cleanup, attendees gathered for the formal dedication of the Peace Pole, which carries the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” inscribed in multiple languages. The ceremony highlighted the importance of unity, understanding, and community connection. Jim Holderman shared thoughtful reflections on the practical meaning of peace, encouraging those present to consider how peace begins with everyday actions, mutual respect, and compassion.

One of the most inspiring moments of the event came when four student Peace Poem winners read their original poems. Their words brought hope, creativity, and heartfelt messages about kindness, reminding everyone of the importance of empowering young voices in building a harmonious future. The ceremony concluded beautifully with the students unwrapping the ribbons around the Peace Pole, symbolizing our shared local and global commitment to peace. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible and to our Sponsors, Minuteman Press and Los Palmeros.

The Winter Warmth Coat Drive

The Winter Warmth Coat Drive has been an annual event for 31 years. The community coat drive is held in the fall and the club members collect new and gently-used coats, blankets, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. These items are sorted, cleaned and prepared for distribution at an event hosted by the

OUR Center each year in early December. The OUR Center provides emergency resources and longer-term assistance to people experiencing challenging financial and other life circumstances. Additionally, the Longmont Charity Fund provides the funds to purchase new coats for children and extra large adults coats. The coat drive began in 1991 with six donation sites and has grown over time with the support of volunteers helping collect, drop-off, sort and distribute these garments.

Promoting literacy locally and abroad is essential in building strong societies.

Born To Read

The Longmont Rotary Club Charity Fund provides a grant to the Born to Read program. Every new parent is given to book bag to promote the habit of reading to your child-that includes your infant! Each bag from Born to Read contains two books, a library card to Longmont Public Library, and several pamphlets and flyers with tips on reading to young children. Once assembled, the bags are given to Longmont United Hospital and UCHealth centers in Longmont.

Full of initiative, Rotary members are working for a stronger, and better tomorrow. Operating independently but pooling resources enables multiple plans and actions to be in motion at once. These action groups serve as resources, collaborating to undertake effective, sustainable approaches to dominate world issues.