The Four-Way test of the things Rotarians think , say or do are:
First……...Is it the TRUTH?
Second…...Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Third…….Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Fourth…...Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
With these tenets in mind and as people of action, Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Santa Monica participate in a number of hands-on service projects to support our community throughout the year.
Recently members participated in two annual projects, food sorting at the Westside Food Bank and assembling and delivering Valentines Day Gift bags to local senior citizens.
Rotarians and staff from the Westside Food Bank sorted, organized and boxed hundreds of pounds of donated canned goods and other food items that are then provided to low-income or food insecure individuals that are served by more than 70 local agencies, including food pantries, shelters and transitional living sites.
Many seniors in our community are isolated, live alone or don’t have family. Valentine’s Day can be especially lonely. Joining staff and volunteers from WISE & Healthy Aging, Rotarians assembled gift bags and hand-delivered them to clients during lunch at the agency. It was heartwarming to visit with the elders and listen to their stories of remarkable lives.
Additionally, Rotarians arrived at the Fairmont Hotel and volunteered to give blood at our the annual blood drive which provides much-needed blood to the American Red Cross.
The Community and Youth Grants committee has also been busy. Grants were given to The Westside Food Bank where the money will be used to purchase a generator that may be necessary to preserve food in emergency situations and to Orchestra Santa Monica to purchase projection equipment and microphones.
The Rotary Club of Santa Monica Foundation also gave out money to help the community with checks being given to SaMoHi Grad Night and Step Up on 2nd.
We honored another of our Unsung Heroes. This time the award was presented to Walt Walston, a long-time dedicated volunteer for Meals on Wheels West. A few years ago on Thanksgiving, Walt volunteered through his synagogue to deliver meals. He was hooked. At first he was volunteering one day a week, which quickly became three. When interviewed Walt said, “Meals on Wheels introduces us to a lot of people we may not normally meet, which is a lot of fun...you feels good about being able to deliver a meal to someone who may not be able to get out of the house much. Through all these years, I’ve gotten to know many very interesting people and hear their stories.” Thank you Walt for making our community a better place.
For more information on the Rotary Club of Santa Monica, visit https://www.rotaryclub ofsantamonica.org, or for details on membership, please call 310-917-3313.
