Share-A Gift Boulder
Flatirons Rotarians Joe Hinton (aka Santa) and Jo Ann Jocelyn (aka Santa’s Helper)(pictured here) volunteered at Boulder Community Health in early December. They collected donations for Share-A-Gift which is a non-profit, all-volunteer, non-denominational organization that provides toys, books, and bicycles for children of low-income families in the Boulder Valley School District. Every year since 1972, approximately 2000 girls and boys, birth to age 14 have received these donated gifts from the Boulder community, Boulder area businesses, schools, bike shops, churches and now from Boulder Flatirons Rotary and Boulder Rotary.
This year, with BVSD schools shifting to online learning and many businesses working remotely, these collections weren’t possible, so financial donations were needed in order to purchase new toys, books and games in bulk. During the holiday season the donated toys were held at ‘The Toy Shop’ where parents selected gifts for each child. Due to Covid-19, The Toy Shop this year was a Drive-Thru and Touchless event. All those receiving gifts stayed in their cars while gifts were brought to them by volunteers. Everyone received a bag full of pres-elected age-appropriate new toys. We hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season!
To learn more, please contact them at email: info@shareagift.org and visit their Share A Gift Website.
Salvation Army Bell Ringers
As part of the Rotary District 5450 Service Day celebrated on Dec 5th. Boulder Flatirons Rotarians Kim Plumridge (along with pooch Cupcake) and Mary Anne Eckert (pictured here) volunteered to be Salvation Army bell ringers. They and many other Boulder Flatirons Rotarians who volunteered for the Salvation Army raised $940.76! They had great turnout greeting customers at the Walmart in Lafayette. Notwithstanding the concerns of COVID-19, both Rotarians were donned in a Rotary mask, gloved and socially distancing from customers.
Mary Ann at 86 1/2 years young has been volunteering her entire life and credits her ageing well through embracing ‘Service Above Self’ which is the motto of Rotary. To be a role model, she handed children one-dollar bills to put in the kettle so they learned how to pay-it-forward for the year-round impact in the Boulder community through social services assistance, homeless shelters, disaster relief, children’s programs, rehabilitation services, anti-human trafficking, and more. Mentoring to younger generations comes naturally to both Mary Anne and Kim and they explained that when you ring the bell, you’re making change happen.
To learn more about Boulder Flatirons Rotary Club, please visit their Boulder Flatirons Rotary Club Website.