The Rotary Club of Springfield Township inspired others to lend a hand in honor of Martin Luther King and a national day of service to others. The Rotary ran a two fold campaign using mostly Facebook to spread the word. The first part of the fundraiser was to collect toiletry items for the “Washeteria” at Face to Face Shelter in Germantown. The “Washeteria” allows people to come in and shower and wash their clothing in a dignified manner. Most of the participants are homeless war veterans. Numerous donations poured into Dan Helwig Realtors in Flourtown who offered to be a drop off location on behalf of Rotary. Tthe Springfield Democrats picked up on the news feed and held their own collection to contribute. All in all, thru Rotary and the combined efforts and donations of others who found out about the fundraiser on Facebook, 2000 Toiletries were collected and donated. The second half of the project was to collect money to pay for 200 meals on MLK Day at Face to Face. When last years restaurant vendor bowed out due to increased costs of chicken, Sandy Run Country Club stepped up. Mike Creeden, Manager at Sandy Run, was able to get most of the vegetables and chicken donated for free and his staff at Sandy Run prepared the 200 meals at no cost. Because of Sandy Run’s generosity there is a surplus of over $750 which will be donated to Face to Face as a monetary contribution to help with the upkeep and maintenance of the facility. On MLK Day, Rotarians and other volunteers served 200 grateful people at Face to Face who enjoyed an amazing and nutritious meal. Though MLK Day comes but once a year, Rotarians keep service in their hearts all year long living by and spreading their motto “service above self”. The community recognized their Facebook call to actions and the response was nothing less than extraordinary.
Green Dot Mom Speaks to Rotary about Importance of Supporting Our Troops
Rotary welcomed Wendy Souders from the Green Dot Moms today to Rotary. The Green Dot Moms are a closed group of Facebook mother’s supporting each other while their children are deployed abroad. They have been sending care packages to their children’s unit if only to bring smiles to their children’s faces and for them to know they are loved and people back home care and are thinking of them. The Souders Family also is instrumental in maintaining the Flourtown Erdenheim War Memorial on Bethlehem Pike, which the Rotary Club just completed a $20,000 renovation on last year. Today, Rotary Club President George Schaefer presented Mrs. Souders a check for $250 to help defray the shipping costs of the care packages. We love our troops and the Rotary Club will always support you! Pictured Left to Right, Pres. George Schaefer and Wendy Souders of the Green Dot Moms.
The Good Guys Visit Rotary – COPS
The Springfield Rotary Club welcomed members of the Springfield Township Police Department to share information on their new program, COPS. The new program replaces the DARE program in the Springfield Township School District. The new program gives better flexibility for the police officer instructors to gear their programs towards current concerns affecting the children, for example cyber bullying, Facebook, texting, and peer pressure. The Springfield Rotary Club presented a check for $2,000 to help fund the new program. Pictured Left to Right, Rotary President Linda Silva, Chief Hummel and Lt. Pitkow.
Rotarian Needs Help with Cancer Fundraiser
On April 4, 2011, the Springfield Township and Chestnut Hill communities lost a wonderful, energetic, kind, caring and giving member, Ms. Kira A. Marshall. At the age of 26, Kira lost her battle with a very aggressive form of lymphoma.
Kira’s contributions to society through her roles as a loving sister, daughter, godmother, supportive friend, dedicated professional and overall ‘love-of-life’ person inspired many.
Those closest to Kira are gathering on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at the Flourtown Country Club to host a memorial dinner and charity event in her honor. A committee of Kira’s friends and family, “Kira’s Kommittee,” are volunteering their time to organize, promote and run this event.
The memorial dinner and raffle is sponsored by the Flourtown Country Club. The charity event will feature a raffle for items and services donated by local businesses. Kira’s Kommittee respectfully requests a donation from your business for the raffle on January 7, 2012.
Your business was selected because the members of Kira’s Kommittee want to support local and small businesses in the Greater Philadelphia Region, many of which Kira loved and frequented. Any contribution you may provide, no matter how large or small, will help make the memorial dinner and charity event a success!
Proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to continue the nation’s fight against cancer. In recognition of your contribution, your business will be acknowledged as a donor in the event program.
Please know that any contributions you make will positively impact not only the future research to beat cancer, but will also make the event honoring Kira that much more of a success!
Financial donations may be made out to Kira A. Marshall Memorial Fund and sent to P.O. Box 103 Lederach, Pa. 19450. Plus, we need baskets for the auction if you have any.
Here are some links;
Facebook
To buy tickets or make a donation;
http://kmmemorialfund.blogspot.com/
Thank you for your time and philanthropy.
Sincerely,
The team of Kira’s Kommittee
Submitted by Rotarian Jim Mohr and his wife Susan