June 5,2021 At the District Conference this past May, Corning Rotary was awarded Third Place in the category of successful fundraisers and service projects held during this past pandemic year. Below is the information from our application:
FILLING THE NEED
Corning Rotary did not do just one major project during the pandemic shut down. Instead we focused on finding the needs, big or small, in our community and then stepped up to help fill those needs. We worked this project all Rotary year long.
- When we first went into lockdown in March, 2020, Rotarians volunteered to deliver meals for Meals on Wheels volunteers who were no longer able to deliver due to high-risk concerns. Rotarians continue to do this to this very day.
- We started our Virtual Beer Tastings when the local micro-breweries were shuttered to anything other than take-out. Our first Virtual Beer Tasting was held in May. The second one was held in July and the third one at the end of August.
- We prepared and served 55 meals through the Salvation Army Shepherdâs Table at the end of August.
- Rotary Reads, our signature literacy project, continued this year for two elementary schools in Corning. We sponsored 2nd graders at Winfield School - students were given a book each month and then a fun pack for summer. At Severn School, all the students in K-2nd grade received a book each month and a fun pack for summer. This involved financial support of $5,300. Usually Rotarians go into the school to read each book to the classes and then hand out the new books to the students. We were unable to do this in person due to COVID concerns.
- Three Rotarians have participated in video conferencing or recordings to continue our in-class reading program for elementary students at Winfield and Severn. One Rotarian who reads to two kindergarten classes has done her readings via zoom recordings. Since the school year began she has recorded 78 books and will record another 21 by the end of the school year.
- We spread mulch and performed fall cleanup throughout the Community Garden at the Corning Food Pantry.
- Several Rotarians packed 440 Thanksgiving bags at the Corning Food Pantry for distribution to needy families in the area in time for the holiday.
- Instead of our in-person Rotary Reads day in March, 20 Video Recordings were made and provided to both Winfield and Severn Elementary Schools.
- The club held the Regional Scripps Spelling Bee via the Scripps online testing program. The winner will be sent to the National Scripps Spelling Bee.
- Rotarians rebuilt the âhigh tunnelâ protection that was damaged in the winter at the Corning Food Pantry Community Garden.
- The club donated $4,000 to the Corning-Painted Post School District to help cover meals for students participating in the summer meal program.
- The Sustaining Fund donated $5,500 to the school district to provide Hot Spots to students in areas without the necessary internet service to attend school virtually.
- The club made an international donation of $3,000 to Soroti, Uganda the horticultural and farming program.
- The club donated $3,000 to House with Heart orphanage in Nepal for operational support
- Club donated $1,600 to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign
- Club donated $2,000 to the Corning Food Pantry in December
- Scholarships will be given to four students this year in the amount of $1,000 each.
- RYLA â two students have been selected to attend RYLA this year.
- The club donated $1,600 to Corning Meals on Wheels for the purchase of new thermal bags for meal delivery and also kitchen equipment.
- The club donated $2,000 for individual STEM kits for the summer virtual camp program.