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“In towns and cities... there is no more important institution than the local paper.”
Warren Buffett
The Rotary Club of La Mirada will conduct a busy slate of activities in the coming year, according to President Russell Hall.
Rotary projects and activities are listed in budget plans approved recently by club members.
“Rotary is going to be very active in La Mirada this year,” said Hall. “Rotary has been very visible in the La Mirada community in recent years, and we plan to increase our level of activity in the months ahead.”
The major community service project planned by Rotary will be the Eileen Wade “Clothes for Kids” shopping event in December. The project has been renamed in memory of long-time Rotarian Eileen Wade, who championed the project for decades. More than 40 children from La Mirada will be taken to Marshall’s department store on Imperial Highway and Santa Gertrudes Avenue to shop for warm clothing, jackets, and shoes. A holiday party will be held following the shopping event.
Rotary will once again provide scholarships to a number of students graduating from La Mirada High School. Applications for the scholarship program will be accepted in the Spring of 2016, and the applications will be reviewed by a committee of Rotarians. Scholarship winners will be announced in May. In addition to those donations, Rotary also plans to separately contribute to the La Mirada Scholar-Athlete scholarship program.
The Rotary Club will partnering with the Walmart Neighborhood Market to provide funding to support the Good Sam Pantry food distribution program at Beatitudes of Our Lord church. Rotary will provide complete Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter meals for dozens of families through the pantry to help meet needs in the community.
The annual Independence Celebration on July 3rd at La Mirada Regional Park will again see Rotary participation. Students from La Mirada High School’s Interact Club will assist in operating a food booth at the event. Proceeds from the booth will be used to assist the Interact Club. Selected members of the Interact Club will also be sent to a mountain camp to participate in Rotary’s Youth Leadership Training Academy.
Rotary and Interact Club members will also be participating in the City of La Mirada’s annual Easter Egg Hunt at La Mirada Regional Park.
In keeping with tradition, Rotary members will continue to participate in the annual Memorial Day services honoring local service personnel. The event, which is sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9148 at Olive Lawn Memorial Park, provides a special tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
Rotary will be working with other local organizations to support other events in the community. Club members will work at the La Mirada Community Foundation’s “4 La Mirada Kids” carnival. Rotary will also join with other service organizations, area businesses and local churches to support the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Foster Road Elementary School.
Rotarians will be involved with supporting the sale of rubber ducks for the Kiwanis Club’s annual Duck Race, which has been held at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center in recent years. Other local organizations that Rotary is planning to support in the coming year include: Friends of the La Mirada Library, From Maddi’s Closet, the La Mirada Symphony, and the La Mirada Relay for Life.
“Rotary is made up 1.2 million people who come together to improve their communities and the world,” says Hall. “Our many different occupations, cultures, and countries give us a unique perspective. Our shared passion for service helps us accomplish the remarkable.”
Individuals interested in learning more about the Rotary Club of La Mirada are welcome to attend a club meeting on Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. at the Elephant Bar restaurant, 14303 Firestone Boulevard in La Mirada. Additional information is available at https://www.facebook.com/Rotarycluboflamirada.