COMMUNITY SERVICE

Rotary clubs always include the names of the communities in which they primarily reside. And a defining goal of every club is to help meet needs within that community as well as neighboring communities, often in cooperation with nearby Rotary clubs and other not-for-profit organizations.

Recent projects include:

Assisting those who are food insecure as a supporting member of an area-wide organization known as Purple Pantry. Rotarians from Orange, Milford, Devon, and West Haven purchase food and every day stock a Purple Pantry Box at the Milford Senior Center.

Providing and cheerfully serving meals to varied groups. Including a tailgate party for Special Olympics athletes of all ages at the Yale Bowl, a Thanksgiving meal for veterans at the Orange American Legion Hall, a winter holiday party for the disabled clients served by Woodbridge-based Marrakech, Inc. and a spring pancake breakfast for seniors from Orange, Milford and Woodbridge.

Donating funds to local not-for-profit organizations – to purchase winter coats for at-risk children though area elementary schools, provide health and hygiene products to those struggling with consistent access to personal, home and baby care products across the region through Traveler on a Mission and the Diaper Bank of Connecticut. Funds are also used to underwrite art education opportunities to young and early career professional artists and art enrichment experiences with the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation and with children in foster care at ‘r kids Family Center.

Participating in celebratory town events such as Orange’s Memorial Day Parade and Country Fair and helping sponsor the Town’s summer concert series.