Cara Mia and Hope on a Mission (Aired on March 7, 2021)

Cara Mia Bacchiochi, recently featured on NBC’s Today Show, returns to RadioRotary to describe new efforts in her continuing ministry to Poughkeepsiewomen (and men) who are homeless and addicted to drugs or alcohol. For 5½ years she has been at the corner of Main and South Clinton every Saturday morning and evening, sometimes in rain or snow, with the street ministry Hope on a Mission (HOAM). Bacchiochi and volunteers, many from local Rotary clubs, distribute food, clothing, and personal care items, restoring dignity to the homeless and addicted. Now, starting in March 2021, Hope on a Mission is adding a Tuesday night dinner in front of 690 Main Street in Poughkeepsie, a couple of blocks east of the Saturday night event, which also continues. Ms. Bacchiochi has “street cred” herself from life on the street in the 1980s. Periods of sobriety were interrupted by relapses until found herself in 2013 in the same jail cell she had occupied in 1990. While there, she recognized that her purpose in life is to help women with lives like hers. After she was released from jail that last time, she started Hope on a Mission. Check out the website which has opportunities to volunteer or donate—and if you have not seen it before, watch The Today Show interview.

Learn more:
Hope on a Mission Website: https://www.hopeonamission.org/
Hope on a Mission HOAM Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hoampk/
Cara Mia Bacchiochi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carabacci
Cara Mia Bacchiochi on The Today Show: https://www.today.com/video/how-1-woman-in-recovery-found-her-mission-to-support-others-100460613922

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March 4, 2021 · Posted in Addiction Recovery, Dutchess County, Homelessness, Service Organizations  

A New Kind of Rotary Club (Aired on February 21, 2021)

On February 6, 2021, the Rotary Passport Club of District 7210 had its first meeting. RadioRotary got on the case immediately, interviewing Passport Club President Samantha Alvareng, who is the guest on this show. Passport clubs are a new way for busy people to become Rotarian, since they typically meet only four times a year, although the District 7210 club is also having a Zoom meeting once a month. The basic idea is that a Passport Rotarian can work on the projects of other clubs and attend their meetings when convenient, but the Passport club is all about service and the District 7210 club already has started some service projects of their own. In some ways the Passports are like any other Rotary club, with officers, a Board, and dues—but the members have a lot of freedom to work on service at their own schedule. Since they do not meet weekly for meals, membership in a Passport club is less expensive than other Rotary clubs—so clubs often have more young members and retired members than usual. If you are interested in learning more or perhaps joining, you can email membership7210@gmail.com . The new club already has 20 members and is engaged in both domestic and international projects.

Learn more:
About Passport Clubs: https://www.rotaryglobalpassport.org/page/about-passport-clubs
Rotary District 7210: https://rotarydistrict7210.org/
Spring Valley Rotary Club: http://www.springvalleyrotaryny.org/

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March 4, 2021 · Posted in New Generations, Rotary International, Service Organizations, Youth