Community Service

Community Service includes the scope of activities which Rotarians undertake to improve the quality of life in their community. Many official Rotary programs are intended to meet community needs, whether it be to promote literacy, help the elderly or disabled, combat urban violence or provide opportunities for local youth.

Fredericktowne Rotary is involved with several ongoing community service projects. Our signature project is working with the Homework Club Program at Parkway Elementary School. Our Rotary Club provides several volunteer members every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon for an hour of tutoring at the school. Additionally, we have raised over one thousand dollars to assist in the purchase of new playground equipment, and we continue to support other needs at the school.

Community Living, Incorporated is a local, non-profit group, that is part of ARC of Frederick County. They have been providing residential services for Frederick County citizens with developmental disabilities since 1979. Our club has assisted the organization by providing manpower hours, twice a year, for fix-up and cleanup at one of the resident homes. One Saturday morning is set aside in the fall and one in the spring when our members paint, landscape, clean and provide any services necessary to help improve the resident's home. We also give presents at Christmas time to Community Living to provide supplies and appliances for the resident housing. On the last weekend of September 2002, Community Living along with Fredericktowne Rotary sponsored Oktoberfest, a fun filled weekend of German food, drink and crafts (see link on main page). This event is a major fundraiser for both organizations and is planned to be repeated at the same time in 2003.

Starting in the summer of 2001, our club will be part of the Maryland State Highway Administration's Adopt-A-Highway program. Club members will spend four times each year patrolling and cleaning trash from a ½ mile section of Rt. 15 at the North end of town.

Other projects that our club participates with include ringing bells for the Salvation Army during the Winter Holiday season, raising money for Big Brothers/ Big Sisters by participating in their Bowl-A-Thon fund raiser, and "Adopting Families" during the Christmas holiday.

If you would like more information on these projects or would like to learn how you could help, please contact us.