by Ingrid Nova | May 30, 2016 | Community Service Ongoing, East Lansing Rotary Foundation, Pancakes in the Park
The Rotary of Club of East Lansing puts on the Pancakes in the Park event each year to raise funds to benefit community projects. The 2015 Pancakes in the Park benefited the following organizations:
- The Weekend Survivor Kit Program coordinated by Many Hands Foundation
- The Okemos Band Boosters for new uniforms
- Helping Hands Respite Care to support a Music Therapy program
- Donley Elementary School received funds for books for their library
- Parkwood YMCA for Summer Camp Scholarships
- East Lansing High School for their after Prom Party
- Funds for the East Lansing Library for the Literacy Program
- Support for the new East Lansing Pickle Ball Court at Patriarch Park
- Support for Beekman Therapeutic Riding Center
- A contribution to East Lansing Parks and Recreation for the Art and Ceramic Studio at the Hannah Community Center
To learn more about receiving funds from the East Lansing Rotary Club go to https://eastlansing636.wpenginepowered.com/rotary-committee-summary/community-service/
by Ingrid Nova | Feb 19, 2016 | Community Service Ongoing, Events, Weekend Survival Kits
Please Support the Weekend Survival Kits Program
Feeding Hungry Children. Now in its’ sixth year of operation, the Weekend Survival Kits (WSK) program helps feed needy children (most of whom receive free, or reduced-price meals at school) by providing them with a two-gallon bag filled with nutritional food every other Friday during the school year. A typical Weekend Survival Kit includes: pre-portioned crackers, soup, 100% fruit juice, pudding cups, mac and cheese, canned vegetables, pasta with protein, peanut butter, granola bars, fruit cups in plastic containers, single serve cereal boxes, fruit chews and oatmeal packets. Each “kit” is packed with enough food for up to 7 meals and 2 snacks to help feed a hungry child. In 2013, the Many Hands Foundation became the fiduciary agent for the WSK program and now coordinates the program’s food ordering, packing sessions and food kit deliveries.
2015-16 Participating Schools – Feeding Hungry Children
Started during the 2010-11 school year, the Weekend Survival Kits program currently serves nearly 1,500 children in 10 school districts, including: Dansville, Haslett, Holt (Hope, Sycamore, Wilcox), Okemos (Central, Hiawatha, Bennett Woods, Cornell), Lansing (Attwood, Post Oak, REO, Riddle, Willow, Cavanaugh, North, Gier, Eastern Middle School, Beekman Center), Ingham ISD (Heartwood), DeWitt (Herbison Woods, Schavey Road, Scott), Mason (Alaiedon, Steele, North Aurelius), East Lansing (Donley, Pinecrest, Glencairn, Marble) and Williamston (Discovery, Middle School, Explorer, Lil’ Hornets), and the after-school tutoring program at the Edgewood Village Network Center in East Lansing.
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You can help close the food insecurity gap in our communities
by voting in
the U Club’s “Big Bang-quet Community Charity Challenge.”
Cast your $5 votes for the Weekend Survival Kits program
online between February 22 and March 22 at:
www.universityclubofmsu.org/theclubwithaheart
by Ingrid Nova | Feb 7, 2015 | Community Service Ongoing, Events, Foundation and Fund Raising
The East Lansing Rotary Club is proud to be a supporter of the Weekend Survival Kits program. Now in its’ fifth year of operation, the Weekend Survival Kits program helps feed needy children in our area (most of whom receive free, or reduced-price meals at school) by providing them with a two-gallon bag filled with nutritional food every other Friday during the school year. A typical Weekend Survival Kit includes: pre-portioned crackers, soup, 100% fruit juice, pudding cups, mac and cheese, canned vegetables, pasta with protein, peanut butter, granola bars, fruit cups in plastic containers, single serve cereal boxes, fruit chews and oatmeal packets. Each “kit” is packed with enough food for up to 7 meals and 2 snacks to help feed a hungry child.
Participating Schools in Weekend Survival Kits Program
Last year (2013-14 school year), 26 different schools in nine different school districts, plus two other locations (Edgewood Village Network Center and the Parkwood YMCA) participated in the program. Overall 1,883 students were served by the WSK program, up from 1,181 the previous year and nearly 400 more students than the 1,500 student goal set for the 2013-14 school year.
Our goal this year is to reach 2,500 students. Currently, 11 school districts and 33 schools are participating, including: Dansville, Haslett, Holt (Hope), Okemos (Central, Hiawatha, Bennett, Cornell), Lansing (Attwood, Post Oak, REO, Riddle, Willow, North, Gardner, Gier Park), Ingham ISD (Heartwood), DeWitt (Herbison Woods, Schavey Road, Scott), Mason (Alaiedon, Steele, North Aurelius), Waverly, East Lansing (Donley, Pinecrest, Glencairn, Marble) and Williamston (Discovery, Middle School, High School, Explorer, Lil’ Hornets). Other participants include the after-school tutoring program at the Edgewood Village Network Center and the Parkwood YMCA Summer Program.
Community Partners also Supporting Weekend Survival Kits
Started by the Haslett-Okemos Rotary Club, the Weekend Survival Kits program continues to grow. Community partners currently include: Rotary Clubs in East Lansing, Haslett-Okemos and Delta-Waverly; Kiwanis Clubs in East Lansing, Okemos and Williamston; Mason Optimist Club; Jackson National Life, Kohl’s, East Lansing Masonic Lodge #480; Okemos Community Church; St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Haslett, the Joe D. Pentecost Foundation, and the R.E. Olds Foundation.
In 2013, the Many Hands Foundation became the fiduciary agent for the Weekend Survival Kits program and now coordinates the program’s food ordering, packing sessions and food kit deliveries.
Help close the food insecurity gap in our communities by voting in
the U Club’s “Big Bang-Quet Community Charity Challenge.”
Cast your $5 votes for the Weekend Survival Kits program
online between February 9 and March 24 at:
www.universityclubofmsu.org/theclubwithaheart
by Ingrid Nova | May 28, 2014 | Awards, Community Service Ongoing, Youth Initiatives
The Student Excellence Award is presented to motivated East Lansing High School students who have demonstrated good character and citizenship through activities in school and the community. In addition, they have demonstrated personal growth by overcoming adversities. The award includes a certificate and a monetary donation for future educational endeavors, which is presented to the students at the Senior Honors Night. The students are nominated by the counseling staff at East Lansing High School. The East Lansing Rotary Club is pleased to announce the 2014 Award Winners.
Kenneth Washington Nominated for Student Excellence Award by School Counselor Nicole Coss
“Kenneth transferred to East Lansing High School when he moved to the area from Detroit.Kenneth holds a job outside of school to help support his family. His income helps his mother with household expenses,as she was a single mother raising two boys up until recently. He is the first person in his family to attend college,” shared Coss.
“Kenneth is a top candidate for this award because of his level of maturity. Kenneth has forged dynamic and genuine relationships with students, teachers, administrators, parents and community members. His ability to engage and lead is innately intertwined with his fascinating and compassionate personality, his mastered sense of conscientiousness and his work ethic.These traits convince me that he will positively influence everyone’s paths he crosses.” Upon receiving the award and recognition at a recent Rotary meeting Kenneth shared that he is looking at MSU, Michigan or North Carolina for school where he hopes to study pre-med.
Juwahir Mohamud Nominated for Student Excellence Award by her Counselor Joshua Barrons
“Juwahir’s family is from Somalia. They immigrated to the United States from a refugee camp in Kenya when she was a baby (after civil war broke out in Somalia). Juwahir comes from a huge family–she is one of 11 children. She is one of the most hardworking and dedicated students. Juwahir goes out of her way to help other students and to make a difference in the community. One of the places Juwahir volunteers is the Boys and Girls Club of Lansing. While Juwahir struggled when she started as a freshman at ELHS, she persevered and demanded academic and personal success for herself. She is now an A/B student. Juwahir will be the first person in her family to attend a four-year university. She has been accepted to MSU,”shared Barrons.
The Student Excellence Awards are a project of the Community Service Committee of the East Lansing Rotary Club. Member Kristin Shelley was the chair of this year’s awards process.
by Ingrid Nova | Jan 16, 2014 | Community Service Ongoing, Playground in the Park
Decades of happy children have explored every inch of the wooden play structure at Patriarche Park. Today we bid it a fond farewell as we make way for a safer, more accessible play structure that will delight children and families for decades to come. We recognize the community members and leaders from East Lansing Rotary that worked so hard to make Playground in the Park a reality.
Demolition begins at Patriarche Park on a frigid day in January as the first step in site preparation which will lead to a community build event in June of 2014.
by Ingrid Nova | Jan 9, 2014 | Community Service Ongoing, Foundation and Fund Raising, Playground in the Park
Buy A Brick Paver
As work begins on the dismantling of the old play structure at Patriarche Park in East Lansing it is a good time to remind our friends and family that a wonderful way to support the new play structure is to purchase a brick paver or two. Create a lasting memory of your support for this community asset. Here is the script for a public service announcement from Honorary Chair, Suzy Merchant:
“I’d like to invite you to join with me in creating a new, more accessible and safer playground at East Lansing’s Patriarche Park.
The new playground has exciting new play spaces. You can help make this new play facility available to children throughout our region by buying a brick paver, today.
Each brick paver can be customized with the names of family members, your business, or others to create a lasting testimonial of your support for this state-of-the-art play facility.”
Create a lasting memory and help build a legacy for our children . . .
