Merrimack Rotary Busy Giving to Community Through Pandemic

MERRIMACK, NH - The Merrimack Rotary Club is always busy raising funds and investing them in our community, and typically contributes tens of thousands of dollars each year to our food banks, coats for kids, college scholarships, safety equipment for our police officers, and a host of other worthy projects. Club President Bob Best says “we’re thankful for the fantastic support from our community in our fundraising activities like buying Christmas trees, enjoying Ribfest, and running in the Turkey Trot 5K. All of these events allow us to give so much back to the community.”

Every penny that Rotary raises goes back to support these causes. No overhead expenses come out of the fundraising efforts.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the need for support in the community and the Rotary Club and its members have risen to the challenge. So far, the club has donated $5,000 to Meals on Wheels, with a significant portion coming directly from members. We know the need is greater to supply hot meals to those in need when we all have to stay home, and cannot come to a food bank or soup kitchen. The club was thrilled to be able to make such a contribution.

The Rotary Club also donated several iPads to our friends at Community Health and Hospice. These devices help care givers provide care, and potentially help patients connect with loved ones who cannot come visit. Making financial donations from the club is important, but finding just the right need and filling it with an in-kind donation from members truly fulfills the Rotary tenet “Service Above Self.”

In that same spirit, the Club continues to raise money for our other two food banks in town, and has already contributed over $1,000 to St. John Neumann and St. James food pantries. “The need is great, and the Club is blessed to have the ability to give” Best said.

In April, the club was contacted by Rose Haven Assisted Living Center about a special need for infrared thermometers to help screen patients and staff for fevers that could be associated with COVID-19. Without hesitation, the club sprang to action, ordered, and delivered the needed equipment. This small but important contribution is exactly the kind of community need that the Club is proud to support.

The Club thanks the community for the Support that allows this level of active giving in the community. If you’re interested in joining the effort, more hands make lighter work, contact the Club President, Bob Best, for details on how to become involved. RobertLBest@comcast.net.

Founded in 1971, the Rotary Club of Merrimack is a volunteer organization of business people and professionals supporting the community. Merrimack Rotary projects have included the Roger Duhamel Pavilion at Watson Park, scholarships, reconstruction of Kids' Kove Playground, scholarships, the Merrimack July Fourth festivities, the Rotary 4-Way Speech Contest, Interact Club, lighting at Reeds Ferry fields and more. The club works with other clubs on international projects like eradication of polio, Pure Water for the World, and hurricane relief in Honduras. Rotary Club of Merrimack also has an annual recognition of the three premiere Gold Award winners for the Green & White Mountain Council of the GSA and bestowing annual individual awards to the two Daniel Webster Council's best Scouts who earned the Eagle Scout of the Year & the Glenn & Melinda Adams Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year.

To RSVP for a meeting or for information about membership, contact Chris Christensen at 603.424.2542 or mailto: chris@christensenNH.com or visit www.merrimackrotary.org.

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