Cupertino Rotary Kicks Off Holiday Giving

Cupertino, Calif. – November 19, 2020 – Cupertino Rotarians do not let the Covid pandemic stop them in supporting families in need during the holiday season. The club delivered their annual ThanksGiving Meals Sharing Dinner Program on ThanksGiving Day in partnership with SAFEWAY in Cupertino, and “Gift of Hope” holiday program together with West Valley Community Services.

“The pandemic and social distancing has increased the need in our community especially now with the holiday season upon us, “ said Henry Buffalow, Cupertino Rotary Community Service Chair.

“We had a challenge with this year’s “Thanksgiving Meals Sharing Program” though in some respects, it was an opportunity,“ said George Denise, Cupertino Rotary’s ThanksGiving Dinner Program Chair. “ Last year, we delivered 120 meals, and this year, we delivered 190 meals. However, while challenging, we had volunteers signed up to deliver them all, and Safeway has doubled their contribution over last year,” he added.

THANKSGIVING DINNER PARTNERSHIP WITH SAFEWAY

190 families in need living in Cupertino and surrounding communities provided by local community organizations and schools:

· Cupertino Senior Center,

· Live Oak Adult Center,

· West Valley Community Services,

· Cupertino Union School District,

· Fremont Union High School District.

The families we delivered meals to are made up of the infirm, shut-ins, seniors, unemployed, poor and others temporarily incapacitated .

In keeping with the social distanceing protocol,, on ThanksGiving morning, Cupertino Rotarians and local Boy Scout Troop 479 volunteered to manage the meal distribution.

The volunteer Rotarians who delivered the meals stayed in their cars and the Boy Scouts placed the meals they delivered in their back seat or in the trunk of their cars

The volunteers who delivered the meals stayed in their cars this year, and the Boy Scouts placed the meals in their trunk or back seat while wearing masks and gloves.

We are advised the volunteers delivering to set the meals on the stoop, ring the bell, and then step back to maintain proper distancing.

WEST VALLEY COMMUNITY SERVICES “GIFT OF HOPE” (www.wvcommunityservices.org)

Cupertino Rotary partnered with West Valley Community Services in the Gift of Hope program. West Valley Community Services has over 800 men, women, and children benefiting from our holiday programs this year.

Cupertino Rotarians have donated to the Gift of Hope and is sponsoring 52 families.

This year, due to Covid, we will be providing families with Target Gift Cards for them to purchase the family gifts themselves. it relieves the stress caused by the pressure to engage in holiday spending that low-income families cannot afford.

WHEN: Saturday, December 12th.

WHERE:

Drop-off - Clients will come West Valley Community Services to pick up their Target Gift Card, however, we do have a wonderful group of volunteers and staff that will deliver gifts to our high risk and senior clients.

ABOUT THE ROTARY CLUB OF CUPERTINO

Chartered in 1955, the Rotary Club of Cupertino represents a broad cross section of local residents, businesses, and professions. Members of the club are involved in a wide array of leadership and volunteer activities. Together, we make a difference in both our local community and in communities around the world.

The club meets every Wednesday at Noon for lunch program and a guest speaker at Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino. To learn more, visit our website at www.cupertinorotary.org

To learn more about these projects, visit Cupertino Rotary’s website at www.cupertinorotary.org

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