Blue Bell Rotary doings

It’s often said that one good idea or one good deed can lead to another. Well, here’s an example of how the idea and the deed can work together. Last February, the Brittany Pointe Quilters contributed their hand-made quilts to Rotoplast, a Rotary International-affiliated charity that provides cleft palate surgeries to poor children around the world. (It is part of Rotoplast’s pre-surgical procedure to cover the children in warm wraps, which then belong to them forever.)

Brittany Pointe, an Acts Lifecare Community in Lansdale, is home to a number of active and interested seniors, including Ann Staub, a former elementary school teacher and professor of education at Immaculata College. Ms. Staub is also a devoted member of the Zeta Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, the international honorary sorority for women educators.

“International understanding is a part of our mission at Alpha Delta Kappa,” says Ms. Staub, “so when I heard about Rotoplast and the Quilters’ gift, it occurred to me that we Zetas could help, too. A group of our members crafts hand-knotted, no-sew fleece blankets, just the thing for little ones to snuggle into as they approach their surgery, which must be an intimidating event for any child.” As a result of her initiative, Ms. Staub’s group has given thirteen blankets to the Rotoplast cause.

Shepherding the transaction for Ms. Staub and her fellow Zetas, was John Behrendt, a fellow Brittary Pointe resident, and Dr. Andy Johanson, who has been a volunteer on two Rotoplast missions and looks forward to a third. Both men are members of the Rotary Club of Blue Bell.

“Rotoplast’s motto is ‘saving smiles, changing lives,” says Johanson, “and it’s amazing to work with these children and see the results. Our thanks to Ann Staub and Alpha Delta Kappa members who know first-hand about introducing good things into childrens’ lives. Their blankets will go around the world to bring comfort and delight wherever they land.”