Service Above Self
January 20th, 2021 -- A Successful MLK Day of Service
For the third year in a row, Arlington Rotary Club sponsored a no-sew fleece blanket assembly project during Volunteer Arlington's Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteer Day. Two hundred thirty (230) volunteers assembled 249 fleece blankets! This year was a little different! Everything was done in a Covid-safe fashion with contact-free pickups and returns of the blanket kits. The blankets were donated to three local non-profits, who in turn gave the blankets to their clients. They were:
This volunteer project also made the news: www.fox5dc.com/video/891065
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Arlington Rotary Club recently raised over $10,000 to alleviate hunger in Arlington. One half of the funds raised was passed on to Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) and the other half to Bayou Bakery's participation in the Real Food for Kids initiative.
WJLA has a piece on Bayou Bakery and Real Food for Kids.
Packing Beans for AFAC
Backpacks for Students—Delivered!

Empowering Enrichment for Arlington Schools

-- Key Elementary Teacher
Many of our students have benefitted from the Rotary scholarships your group has generously provided over the years. The little girl in kindergarten, who was so obsessed with ballet that she wore skirts everyday and called them tutus, is the 4th grader who still loves dance classes. The shy, new student who came last year is an outgoing artist in the sketching class. The student who told me that she loves sewing and weaving because she learned it from her grandmother, is continuing to grow her skills in the sewing class. Thanks so much for all you do,
-- Key Elementary Teacher
-- Key Elementary Student and Scholarship recipient
-- Jenny Sammis, Oakridge Elementary School PTA President, 2018
I have had the pleasure of teaching dance to Empowering Enrichment Rotary Club Scholarship students at both Key and Oakridge Elementary. The Oakridge scholarship student had already been given a PTA scholarship in years past, which meant she was not eligible to take my class through this means again. The Rotary scholarship allowed the student to do her favorite thing - dance! She served as a leader in the class by helping to lead warm ups and by taking a front row spot in the performance dance. I know that her participation in the class boosted her confidence and gave her a real sense of pride in her hard work. At Key, I had multiple scholarship recipients in my dance class. Without the Rotary scholarships I believe we would have been under enrolled, which would have led to the class being cancelled. So, from that perspective the Rotary scholarships, directly and indirectly, helped all 13 students participate in an active, creative arts activity. We had a great group of students who really bonded. They learned a dance using flags as props. We decorated these flags to represent our own personalities and then waved them proudly as we danced. The dancers showed so much enthusiasm and pride for their final performance dance.
-- Shona Colglazier, Urban Kangaroo Owner