Rotary Club’s 2021 Year in Review

After a year of COVID-19, the Rotary Club of Avalon Park (RCoAP) declared 2021 a “Year of Giving.” Not an unusual concept for a civic club who supports more than 100 service projects per year and rarely says no to requests within and around the community. However, the exceptional year they just had is certainly with noting.

In response to a request for a list of service projects, the club responded. “We have provided as many as we can possibly remember,” stated RCoAP President, Jim McQueeney, “The recap is very impressive for our small club of 32 members, and we are proud of what accomplish year after year.”

Rotary Club of Avalon Park 2021 Service Projects Highlights:

1. Neighborhood Clean Ups (throughout the year)

2. Fly a Flag (all patriotic holidays)

3. Book Sharing via Three Little Free Libraries

4. Mikey Stroz Family Foundation Contribution (one of our own, memorial)

5. Blessing Bags for Samaritan’s Resource Center

6. Harbor House Donations Pocketbook and Purse Drive

7. Alex Net Kids (fishing gear)

8. NICU Family Supplies

9. Boy Scouts Troop #33 (camping gear for a local chapter)

10. Clean the World

11. The Miracle League (baseball equipment)

12. 9/11 Ceremony Events (20th Anniversary)

13. Octoberfest Dunk Tank in support of education

14. Reinforcement Association in Haiti – 55 Students

15. Operation Christmas Child

16. Adriana’s Attic Thanksgiving Meals

17. Harbor House Food Drive

18. 2nd Harvest Food Bank Thanksgiving Meals

19. American Heart Walk team

20. Word on the Street and Orange County Academy Service Projects

21. Supporting local businesses and restaurants (always)

In addition to the above list, RCoAP delivers a food donation to two organizations: Samaritan’s Resource Center (Wednesdays) and Word on the Street (Sundays) sponsored by Publix.

Worth Mentioning: The Holiday Book Drive is in the works through December 15. Donations are being collected during business hours on The 5th Floor (2nd floor above Marketplace) in association with United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida. This project will be directly contributing to the creation of a library at UCP Bailes Early Childhood Academy.

“We also tied in a request for book donations to the Holiday Wine Walk asking participants to bring a new or gently used book,” said McQueeney. “It was a huge success.”

In closing, the club asks, “What can we do for you?” Please send them ideas and ways they can serve next year: http://www.rotaryclubofavalonpark.org. Or, simply come by and check them out! They meet every Wednesday at 7:30 am at the Avalon Park Community Center, 13401 Tanja King Blvd.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Ray Villegas from University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program speaking to our group.