Wednesday evening, July 29, Dan and Colleen Coons, Chuck Flint, Wendell Jones, John Pennypacker, Shelly Romine, Greg Okonowski, Jim Schmidt, Ray Smith, and Ron and Toni Thompson arrived at the Wells Fargo Branch located at 1860 East University in Mesa ready to go to work.  Shelly's friend Sonya Aguilera and her friend also showed up to help.

 

After a brief orientation, donning gloves and masks, the volunteers assembled in positions next to  stacks of preboxed food items.  They had fun in record-breaking heat placing the boxes into the trunks of cars for people in need.  

 

United Food Bank has been hosting these drive up food distribution events during COVID to keep exposure to a minimum for volunteers and food recipients.

 

These thirteen volunteers each worked 2.5 hours - how much value do you place on a total of 32.5 hours of volunteer time invested in performing a labor of love?  It's priceless!

Lola McClane was born in Santa Cruz California.  She was the youngest of three - all girls.  She has been an Arizona resident for five years, and has visited 13 foreign countries:  England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, The Netherlands, West Indies (including lots of the surrounding islands), Mexico, and Canada.  English is the only language in which she is fluent.  In addition to California and Arizona, Lola has also resided in Kansas, Minnesota, and Texas.

 

As a teen, Lola dreamed of becoming a music teacher.  Instead, she is now retired from a thirty-five year career as a Court Reporter.

 

Lola is the mother of two daughters and has two granddaughters.  She says, "Despite all the wonderful places I've visited, my favorite vacation, hands down, is the first weekend in August when I go back to Kansas for the family reunion."

 

When asked to describe her most rewarding volunteer experience, Lola said, "I volunteered for Boots In The House where we packed boxes for male troops, female troops and canine troops.  The atmosphere was just so alive and I walked away just feeling so uplifted."

 

Lola is the author of a book for children:  The Bird who was Afraid of Heights.

 

Lola is currently serving as Secretary of Mesa West Rotary Club.  Since joining the club in 2018, she has served as greeter many times, been a member of the program committee, and when we were meeting in person served as photographer for the Messenger.

 

 

I think you have been having a hot summer in PHX and surroundings. I am praying that the members continue to stick close to home and are able to avoid larger gatherings. The Mexican beer bug is a most unwelcome visitor with AZ having a nasty bout of it, up there with Florida and California.

 

Billie and I have been keeping a very low profile doing our shopping at the local Blind Bay store and avoiding unnecessary gatherings in Salmon Arm. The bug has left our area alone so far. We have been fortunate this summer in that all 3 of our children have been able to stay with us out at the lake, a very fine place to do our isolation.

 

The photo is a view of our 2 vessels on the Shuswap Lake.

 

I just love how they come individually wrapped to seal in the flavor.

The Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary that enables the amazing work we, as Rotarians, are all proud to be a part of.  Every Rotarian is strongly encouraged to support TRF every year by donating to the General Fund of TRF.  The target gift is $100 per year per member.  That has been the target for a very long time and in the US the average family income has multiplied a few times since that target was set.  Many Rotarians who have the means to do so have set their personal target at the $1,000 per year mark making them eligible for the Paul Harris Society level of donor recognition. 

 

The End Polio Now campaign is a separate fund to which gifts are matched two-for-one by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Many Rotarians choose to support both the general fund and the fight to end polio.

 

No matter what level you decide to donate, please support the Foundation by giving through Rotary Direct.  CLICK HERE to get answers to commonly asked questions about this program.  DOWNLOAD A FORM to authorize your Rotary Direct donations.  By giving through Rotary direct, the opportunity for human error is eliminated and recognition credit for the Rotarian and their club is much more accurate and timelier.

Donations to The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona made through April 15, can be used to qualify for the

Arizona's Credit for Contribution to a Qualifying Charitable Organization for the 2019 or 2020 tax year, but not both!  Their QCO Code is 20698.

 

When everything starts to settle after our current pandemic-related business slow-down is history, some things may never to back to the way they were.  There may well be a shortage of workers that require vocational certifications available to those in low-income groups through TRVFA grants.  Your gift today may help someone have a better tomorrow!  CLICK HERE to donate on-line or CLICK HERE to download a mail-in form.