We are entering into our first Service Season for the Rotary year! As in past years, the first season focuses on providing warmth in our communities. Many people lack enough warm clothing to stay protected throughout winter and lack the money to buy that clothing. Rotary, as one of the leading service organizations in our communities, has taken the lead in filling that need.
Each club is asked to conduct a service project in October that focuses "Warming Hudson Valley.” One of the most popular projects is a coat drive where collection boxes are set up in the community and donations are collected throughout the month of October. Coats are then distributed to those in need either by partnering with another organization or holding their own coat giveaway. Each year we collect thousands of coats that go to back to those in need to keep warm through the winter.
Another popular project is Operation Warm. Clubs partner with this organization to purchase brand-new, high-quality coats for the children of our communities. Throughout the year, clubs conduct fundraisers to fund this project and then partner with the local elementary schools to identify those in need. More information about becoming a partner or simply donating to this cause can be found at https://www.operationwarm.org.
No matter what the service project is for the season, clubs are encouraged to promote their events and results in order to gain project momentum and establish brand recognition. Road signs can be seen throughout the district informing people of the coat drives in their communities as well as social media posts promoting the project. Look for the road signs in your community and follow #7210warminghudsonvalley to see all the great work our clubs are doing!