Feeding the hungry is one of Park Cities Rotary’s strategic priorities.  This has become increasingly important as the COVID pandemic reemerges, especially around the Holidays. 
The RCPC Foundation Committee met in November to review the grant requests that had been received in the previous quarter.  The grants that were made went directly to provide meals for young people.  Christo Rey Dallas H.S. provides economically disadvantaged students with e college preparatory education made affordable through the students’ work study program.  The RCPC Foundation approved their request for assistance in providing hot meals for breakfast and lunch for these students as the need in their communities increases.
 
RCPC Members have provided dinner once a month for the children and families at Ronald McDonald House for about thirty years, but since March, RMH has not allowed volunteers into the House because of the vulnerability of the sick children staying there.  However, RCPC has continued their commitment by purchasing dinner to be delivered to support the House and local restaurants alike.  Through a grant those meals have been secured for another three months if they are needed.
 
RCPC has a relationship with Dumaguete City through member Bud Naifeh who went there with his wife as Peace Corps volunteers fifteen years ago.  He has continued his interest in improving the educational opportunities for poor children.  The Little Children of the Philippines is an organization that assists poor children with the supplies they need to attend school.  However, the pandemic has taken a serious toll on these families and the Little Children of the Philippines is now caring for over seventy children at a shelter.  The RCPC Foundation approved their request for assistance to provide meals for these children.
 
Locally, RCPC members have resumed delivering Meals on Wheels four days a week.  RCPC members have been delivering Meals on Wheels for over thirty years, and we are glad to be able to resume this service.  The reemergence of the pandemic also has continued to increase the work of RCPC’s collaborative partner, Agape Clinic, a free clinic in East Dallas.  To make their days just a little easier, RCPC provides them lunch once a week through funds donated by the membership.
 
Until COVID is vanquished, the need continues and deepens, and RCPC hopes to continue to assist those agencies with whom we have worked for many years, as well as those who have not needed the help before.