Supporting education is primary for East Jefferson Rotary Club. Funds raised are almost entirely reserved for scholarships. In June, the club granted nearly $35,000 in scholarships and grants for Chimacum and Quilcene high school seniors, an adult returning to higher education, and Chimacum pre-K children who can’t afford tuition. We granted $1000 each this year to the Pre-K program to purchase learning books and games and to the local after-school Teen Center for snacks and craft supplies.
During the school year, we sponsored the Chimacum Interact group. During the school year, they raised money by taking pictures of kids, families, adult friends, and pets through their annual Santa Booth at the major local craft fair. They donated the proceeds to Heifer, an international program that donates domestic animals to families in underdeveloped countries, and Center Valley Rescue, a local domestic and wildlife rescue organization where one of the group volunteers. They signed and delivered Christmas cards and Valentines to all of the local nursing and assisted living facilities in our county.
Our Past President, Paul Rogers, planned and produced a major music event in the community featuring his band, “Those Darned Accordions,” with members coming in from as far as California. The event was a huge success and raised $8,000 to send through Rotary for medical aid to Ukrainians, both fleeing from the war, and those remaining in Ukraine. Another $4,000 went to a local organization, Community Wellness, which makes locally grown food available in local schools, and funds school gardens for educational benefits and nutritional support of students.
For community service, EJC Rotarians installed over 300 U.S. flags throughout the community to celebrate Memorial Day and the 4th of July. This spring, Rotarians built two outdoor benches for a community trail project in Quilcene. Our upcoming project gets us out on the road again, this time for our tri-annual Road Clean-up.
