Branford Rotary Feeds its Neighbors

BRANFORD ROTARY STEPS UP FOR ‘FEED OUR NEIGHBORS’

One spring morning at 9:00 a.m. Branford Rotary Club President Hap Storer hoped enough volunteers would show up at the First Congregational Church in Madison to pack 20,000 meals for Haitian hunger relief. By noon, that number hit 28,000.

"While we expected about 70 volunteers, more than 100 people showed up to help - Rotarians, Interact students and other community volunteers from across the shoreline.” said Storer. “It’s a great example of how doing more is what Rotary is all about.”

Dubbed “Feed Our Neighbors,” the event was sponsored by Rotary District 7980 and Area 8 Shoreline Rotary clubs, which encompasses Branford, Clinton, East Haven, Guilford and Madison. In all, the 130 boxes of food will be shipped to Haiti through the Iowa-based Outreach Program (OutreachProgram.org), which works to end hunger at home and abroad. Since 2011, Rotary clubs across the nation have worked with Outreach to pack more than 2.2 million meals, said Matt Martin, Regional Manager for Outreach. Members of District 7980 themselves have packed more than 430,000 of those meals the past seven years.

“Rotarians live their motto: ‘Service Above Self,’” said Martin. “They take charge in every area of ending local hunger: raising money, getting district grants, inviting volunteers, stocking and sometimes even starting food pantries.”

For more than 20 years, District 7980 Rotary clubs have provided financial, material, and professional support for Haiti. Many Connecticut Rotarians have also volunteered, at their own cost, to travel and assist at Haitian health clinics. Feed Our Neighbors is one of several such programs the Branford Rotary participates in every year.

"Events like this are why my wife, Marilyn, and I wanted to be Rotarians,” said Branford resident John Altavilla, who volunteered on Saturday. “And as an Italian, I was extremely happy to be put in charge of scooping pasta. Wearing a hairnet for the first time was a bonus."

The Rotary Club of Branford (branfordrotary.org) is an organization of women and men representing local business and professional leaders who live or work in Branford. They volunteer on numerous projects to provide humanitarian service and build goodwill and peace at home and around the world.

The club meets each Wednesday from 7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Parthenon Diner, 374 E. Main St, Branford, Conn. Guests of members are welcome to attend, and membership inquiries are encouraged. Individuals may contact Branford Rotary Club President Hap Storer at 203-804-0771.

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