The signature SERVICE project of the Rotary club of Sterling is the "Sterling Community Chest."  For decades, the club has led this local fundraiser for the community. The delivered to every house in the community during November and ask citizens to contribute to the fund which serves as the main sponsor for most all the local nonprofits, such as Red Cross, scouts, hospice, Salvation Army, Food Bank, and even funds the rotary dictionary project.

The 2023 list of causes is below.  Members of Sterling Rotary will be delivering to local homes in November a donation letter. 

We thank you for your generous support.

Donation Form

.

.

Sterling Rotary Club Responds to ending Polio worldwide

In response to World Polio Day, October 24, the Sterling Rotary Club pledged dollar support to immunize 1100 children against Polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. The total of $3300 to be raised is the result of individual giving and matching donations from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal is to secure this amount no later than March 26, 2023, which will be the 70th Anniversary of the introduction of Dr. Jonas Salk’s Vaccine to combat the wild Polio Virus.

The vaccine program is funded through the Polio Plus Campaign of the Rotary Foundation. Many in our Sterling community can remember the fear that Polio created as parents kept children indoors, swimming pools were closed, and how those infected could face death or be crippled for life. In 1984 Rotary national took on leadership of the Polio 2005 Committee to spearhead polio immunization for children globally with support for an Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) which offers vaccines for more than just polio:

“They did not want children protected from polio paralysis dying of diphtheria, measles or whooping cough--all vaccine-preventable diseases under EPI.”

To emphasize this broader approach the campaign was renamed “Polio Plus”. The program also funds health care, provides clean water, and creates jobs.  Polio has largely been eradicated around the world but has seen a resurgence in Pakistan and occasional cases even in the US.

The United States Mint has issued a gold-colored $1 coin, commemorating Dr. Salk’s American innovation the Polio vaccine and after the Rotary Club’s giving all contributing members will receive one of these coins to mark the success of the program.  Giving to Polio Plus is not just limited to Rotarians.

Any donation is matched two to one by the Gates foundation so every dollar donated results in three dollars—enough to vaccinate one child against Polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. To donate and find out more information visit

 www.endpolio.org/donate.

DICTIONARY PROJECT

Children need their own dictionaries to be able to develop their writing and reading skills and become resourceful learners. Personal printed dictionaries can give all children access to information they need to be successful in school.

This is the premise on which the The Dictionary Project, a non-profit organization promoting literacy with the vision of assisting all students to become good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing students a gift of their own personal dictionary, was founded. [www.dictionaryproject.org]

Thanks to the Sterling Rotary club, who has participated in The Dictionary Project for more than a decade, third grade students throughout Sterling School District received personal dictionaries. The books are a gift to each student to use at school and at home for years to come. 

Each December, Sterling Rotary purchases and personalizes dictionaries for every 3rd grade student in Sterling School District. Students are given a brief introduction to Rotary when they are presented with their dictionaries.

• The dictionary is the latest edition.
• Contains over 1000 superb colour illustrations.
• Friendly text – designed for 9 years of age to adult.
• Retails for approx $31.00.
  
  Contact Marcia Diasio at First Bank for more information.
• 

Sterling Rotary donated 60 food boxes to the Sterling Food Bank on June 30, 2020

Turkey Carving

Each November the Sterling Rotarians pick up the Turkeys and Ham for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Sterling College.  Each Turkey, usually 24, is skillfully carved by the Rotarians, ready for the Community Dinner on Thanksgiving.

The 38th Annual Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner.

The free meal will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day in the Sterling College cafeteria inside the Student Union building, 125 W. Cooper Ave., Sterling.

Those in attendance will get to enjoy turkey, dressing, mashed and sweet potatoes, gravy, ham, green beans, relishes, French bread, desserts and drinks.

Guests may bring desserts and salads.

While the 500 to 700 dinners will be provided for free, cash donations will be accepted.

Canned goods, soaps, detergents and paper products will be collected for area food banks.

Individuals are encouraged to bring guests.

The dinner is provided by several organizations in Sterling, including the Boy and Girl Scouts, Rotary Club, Silver Threads, Presbyterian Manor, Sterling College cafeteria staff and area churches.

.

Sterling Rotary Club in partnership with Lyons Rotary and Ellinwood Rotary have contributed $1,000 to purchase a Shelter Box.

ShelterBox provides tools that enable people to rebuild homes and transform their lives after chaos of disaster and conflict. When people are plunged into crisis, normality is suspended. But good, quality shelter can cut through the chaos. ShelterBox started as a small organization in rugged West Cornwall in the UK and have grown to make a big impact across the world.

ShelterBox is project partners with Rotary International, whose aim is to create positive, lasting change in communities at home and all over the world. By working together with Rotary, ShelterBox is able to collaborate and combine resources to ensure that they can support more communities in desperate need of shelter. Rotarians and Rotary groups across the world support ShelterBox in a variety of ways, from raising funds to providing support on the ground during response to a disaster. This partnership enables ShelterBox to cross boundaries and cut through red tape to reach even the most remote communities.

Each year, Sterling Rotary award Scholarships to students transfering form a community college who can demonstrate a hardship.