Drivers needed for food bank
The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club is seeking two volunteers, temporary drivers to assist with home deliveries for the Harrison Food Bank. Qualified drivers should be strong and healthy with an SUV or pickup, large enough to hold 6-8 banana boxes filled with food. Pickup is at the Harrison Food Bank and delivery is to households in Norway, Oxford, and Paris. For more information, please contact Rotarian Carol Madsen at carjmad@hotmail.com.
In April 2020, Rotarian Sheila Rollins approached Sandy Swett at the Harrison Food Bank about the possible need for home deliveries for participants who were unable to come to the pantry. That was the start of a Rotary project that took on a life of its own, reaching as many as 60 families from Mexico to Poland, Maine, during the early days of the pandemic. Among the drivers were members of the Oxford Hills, Fryeburg, and Bridgton-Lakes Region Rotary Clubs. By 2021, many folks from that initial count had begun to venture out accessing pantries closer to home. Sheila continued to manage this project for a year, but then a severe illness made it impossible for her to continue. She had worked with Rotarian Carol Madsen to assist in recruiting drivers and asked her to continue that. Sheila died from her severe rare illness, and Carol is attempting to carry on her work with the pantry. Today the deliveries are to 20 families, many of whom are single-person households.
Rotary match for Magic Lantern
The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club vowed to match the first $10,000 in donations from individuals, businesses, and nonprofits in the Lakes Region. Although the Rotary Club’s campaign was focused on July and August, the match will continue into September, until that target number is reached.
Thank you to Rotarian and Chef Nicholas Orgo for hosting a fundraiser at Stella’s on the Square in Bridgton for the Magic Lantern Project on Saturday, August 28, preceding Music on Main St. $900 was raised that night and $700 came to Rotary during the following days. “All $1600 will be matched by Rotary,” said Dave Barker, Rotary’s Magic Lantern Project Manager.
Seeking golfers
Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club is hosting its 12th Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 18, at the Bridgton Highlands Country Club. “The Sponsorship banner is at Muddy River Signs. We are so pleased with those who stepped up to help us by sponsoring our biggest fundraiser of the year. Now we want golfers. Registration forms are on our website at https://www.lakeregionrotary.com or contact me at LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com” said Lisa Ryan, Chair of the Annual Golf Tournament. “Join us as foursomes, or we will match you up with others the morning of the event.”
Rotary cleanup
The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club will host a major fall cleanup of the Stevens Brook Trail on Saturday, September 25. For more information about the time and locations of the cleanup, contact Carol Madsen at carjmad@hotmail.com. “We are planning this in anticipation of an historic walk in October along the part of the trail with a rich mill history. But the event on September 25 will be family-oriented,” remarked Carol Madsen, who Chairs the Club’s Environmental Committee. “We’ve been doing a variety of projects and hosting several speakers in an attempt to involve Rotarians in many aspects of the environment. We’d like to sketch out a several-year plan to impact the environment in a positive way in the Lakes Region.” In fact, over the next two months, we are doing weekly cleanups and maintenance along the Pinehaven Trail with its seven Challenge Stations.” Let us know if you would like to help out on this project, by contacting Carol Madsen at carjmad@hotmail.com.
“This is a great time to be a Rotarian,” remarked President Jessica Putnam. “I’m so pleased that we are able to make a difference in the Lakes Region with all our projects. If you want to know more about Rotary, contact me at LakeRegionRotary@gmail.com.” More information is also available at https://lakeregionrotary.com or the Club’s Facebook Page.
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