When you think of December you often think shopping, gifts, holiday parties, and wrapping.
The Rotary Club of Dallas had 67 members participate in 8 different service projects that helped remind us what the holiday season is all about. The close out to 2021 began with shopping.
  • The Dallas Rotary Club Foundation donated $1,000 to help restock the shelves at Dallas local, Woodrow Community Peace Pantry. Located within Woodrow Wilson high school, they help supplement meals and provide healthy snacks, uniforms/shoes for students in need. It is open to anyone who needs and no paperwork is necessary.
  • A $2,000 donation from the Dallas Rotary Club Foundation allowed for our corporate members at Faith Family Academy to use their shopping skills to fill wish lists for students ranging from K-12th grade through The Spirit of Eagle Giving. It is their mission to bring faculty and staff members of FFA together with local non- profit organizations to provide gifts to more than 250 deserving students and their families. In addition to gifts, gift cards are also provided to each family to help with the cost of holiday meals and other needs.
  • The evening of December 3rd and two shifts on December 6th the Salvation Army warehouse was filled with donated gifts for the local Angel Trees and over 30 Rotary Blue shirts! Members, their spouses, and onboarding members showed up to put in 3 hours of service sorting and organizing. Past years we’ve assisted with Angel Tree in the Malls and found the warehouse to be much more rewarding. The purpose of Angel Tree is to eliminate the cost of toys/giftsthat people may use funds needed for the household in order to provide gifts for their children. To offer the opportunity for supporters to assist someone in need.
  • At the beginning of the school year Rotarians commit to mentor incoming freshman at Woodrow Wilson for the next 4 years. Throughout the year they meet monthly with the Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, and other mentors that previously committed, as well as, one on one with their mentors to prepare for college. Once the four years are complete each student is eligible to apply for a 4yr any school scholarship or 1yr Community College Scholarship from our Foundation. These individuals make up the DREAM Team, Dallas Rotarians Enabling Achievement and Mentoring Scholars, currently consisting of 12 students. This December they were able to gather in person for the first time for their holiday party to celebrate the end of the first semester!
  • The holiday season isn’t complete without wrapping some presents. Our Women in Rotary helped wrapped gifts for women ages 18-24 at Our Friends Place. Women in Rotary meet quarterly an discuss service projects that are meaningful to them, plan, and execute. Our Friends Place is a local nonprofit helping young women break generational cycles of abuse, neglect, poverty and homelessness through a Transitional Living Center (TLC) program and the SOAR to Success prevention program.