The Spirit of Giving
We frequently think of December as the month to demonstrate the “Spirit of Giving.” But the Brookings Rotary Club will celebrate that spirit at our meetings beginning in November.
November is Rotary Foundation Month. Naturally, we will feature our District Rotary Foundation Chair, Tracy Dahl-Webb, at our meeting on November 17, talking about the good works of the Foundation to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
In Brookings, we translate the spirit of giving through the many outreach programs that help families daily to cope with poverty and hunger. Our program speakers will represent the Brookings County Food Pantry, the Backpack Project, and Feeding Brookings. We also can put the spirit into action at the Brookings County Youth Mentoring Project by addressing envelopes. The CDC identifies mentoring programs as one approach communities can take to help kids through difficult times. The BCYMP needs volunteers to address envelopes for their year-end campaign, and Rotarians will be there to help.
Another demonstration of the spirit of giving will be on December 1st when Rotarians ring the Salvation Army bell at Lewis Drugs from 1 to 8pm. I have fond memories of Kay and our two sons ringing the bell together to welcome in the Christmas season.
In a year when we could be tempted to lose our spirit, let’s work together to bring the spirit of giving to the Brookings Community. That’s what Rotary is all about – Service Above Self!