After spending 2020 having online meetings and very few service projects due to the pandemic, we were happy to start being out in the community in 2021.
We started the year with our collection of new coats for the Dept. of Children and Families. In 2019 we created the "Rotary Room" which is stocked with new items for children entering foster care. Thanks to a Rotary grant we were able to buy new duffle bags so that each child can have a new bag to carry their belongings. Every year we ask the community to donate new coats that then are given to the foster children.
We have a group of Rotarians from the towns that the Lowell DCF office serves, and we meet regularly to support the office, through donations and participation in their family events.
In July we thanked outgoing president Jim Heller and welcomed new president Taryn Gillis with a ceremony and a social get-together for the club. We enjoyed a visit from our District Governor Cliff Rober.
In August we collected donations that we brought to the Lowell Wish Project in support of their Backpack Attack project that gives out new backpacks filled with school supplies.
We also helped at a DCF event to give foster kids an afternoon of fun, plus a backpack and a swap between foster parents of clothing and toys and more.
In September we partnered with Shield system Car wash in N. Billerica and had our annual car wash to support the Make A Wish foundation.
In October we cleaned the island we "adopted" that is on Concord Rd. in Billerica, followed by a small social event at the Emerald Rose.
For Halloween we helped at the DCF Trunk or Treat.
In December we partnered with America's Auto Auction for a DCF Holiday Stroll.
We were glad to get as much done as we did, and look forward to 2022!