On April 3, 2020 Rotary Int’l District 5500 issued a challenge to the 50 Rotary clubs in Southern Arizona: “What will you do with a gift of $500 from the District to help your neighbors in this time of crisis?” Here is how Rotarians in the communities of Coolidge, Superior and Globe responded.

The Rotary Club of Coolidge supported the Hope International Ministries Food Bank and then generously matched the $500 donation helping with other community needs such as meals for the Hope Women’s Center and providing face masks to healthcare workers. The Superior Rotary Club, founded in 1929 and supporting their community through the years, decided to come together to assure access to food during the pandemic and gave to the Superior Food Bank with thanks to the volunteers for what they provide to the families in need. Globe Rotary donated to their local Globe Food Bank and then added $1000 to their homeless and domestic violence coalitions.

Quoting Mr. Rogers, who said “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Rotarians are helping their neighbors in Coolidge, Superior and Globe.

Rotary International is the largest non-denominational, non-political service organization in the world with a volunteer force of 1.2 million men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Its 35,000 clubs are grouped into 530 districts. District 5500 in Southern Arizona has 50 clubs, from Yuma to Douglas and from Globe to Rio Rico, that are making a huge difference in their local communities.

“Our District clubs have responded in such unbelievable and caring ways” noted District Governor Ellie Patterson. “Help was urgently needed in our communities due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the local Rotary clubs were there.”

Tax-deductible donations from the public can be directed to the Rotary Clubs listed above for additional support in their Covid-19 relief efforts.

Contact Kirk Reed at: wkirkreed@gmail.com for more information.