New Paltz Rotary Club: 60 Years of Service and Community Impact

The New Paltz Rotary Club is celebrating a remarkable milestone: 60 years of service and dedication to both their local community and international causes. This anniversary is not just a celebration but a testament to the unwavering commitment Rotarians have to service, leadership, and community building, both at home and abroad.

A Legacy of Local Service

The New Paltz Rotary Club has made significant contributions locally. One of their most cherished programs is the Backpack Snack Attack, where Rotarians pack bags of food for children in the New Paltz Central School District. Each week, confidential arrangements with school social workers ensure that students facing food insecurity over the weekends receive these essential supplies. "Every week, two or three Rotarians will pack bags. We'll leave them for the school to pick up, and then they'll be distributed to the families," explains club president Geraldine Kelly.

Another impactful initiative is their winter coat drive, part of the district's Operation Warm program. This project ensures children in need receive brand-new, high-quality winter coats without drawing attention to their circumstances. Geraldine Kelly emphasizes, "Rather than having used coats or the same color coats that would identify the child, we have new colors, things like that. So the children will never be identified as having a free coat."

Empowering Youth Globally and Locally

Globally, the New Paltz Rotary Club extends its reach with projects such as the Friends of Gogo in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Kelly shares the remarkable transformation this project has brought: "We have provided electricity, running water, and refurbished classrooms. We do have a computer center there now as well."

Back home, the club supports local youth through the President's Challenge, a scholarship that mentors an eighth-grade student through high school, culminating in a guaranteed two-year college education at Ulster County Community College. The first graduate of this initiative recently pursued further education at SUNY New Paltz. "It's one of my favorite projects that we do," states Kelly.

Celebrating with Community and Fellowship

The Rotary Club will celebrate their 60th anniversary on March 7th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Novellas in New Paltz. This event will feature a buffet dinner and dancing, with presentations highlighting the club's historical impact. Tickets are priced at $75, and the event is open to all.

Geraldine Kelly warmly invites everyone saying, "You’re very welcome. It's going to be a wonderful evening with lots of reflection on the decades past, and dancing to music from all those times."

For those interested in joining the festivities or wanting more information on the New Paltz Rotary Club's impactful work, please visit their official page or reach out directly through their website.

By fostering a sense of community and providing unwavering support both locally and internationally, the New Paltz Rotary Club continues to embody the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self," as they look forward to many more years of making a difference.



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