Courtesy of Community Advocate, Mary Catherine Karcich
Generosity and kindness can go a long way, literally.
While the Rotary Club of Westborough is dedicated to serving its community, they are also committedtomaking adifference abroad.
While the Rotary Club of Westborough is dedicated to serving its community, they are also committedtomaking adifference abroad.
As part of their international work, the club has been giving backtothecitizensofGuatemala thanks to collaborations with GEMINI (Global Emergency Medicine Initiative) and the help of Jorge Yarzebski, a Rotarian member and native of the country. Over the years, they've sent personnel from UMASS to provide medical services like surgeries to those in need. But it doesn't stop there.
In 2019, Rotarians went to install stoves made out of cinder blocks for better ventilation. Guatemalans cook on an open flame on the floor of their homes - similar to a campfire - causing respiratory issues and creating a hazard to children. Now,thanksto these new stoves, people are not getting sick like they used to.
Despite the stark differences in what one of these stoves would look like next to something we might buy at our local Home Depot, residents were grateful. "A hands-on approach project affords a new perspective of what we value and what is important in life," said Rotarian David Kaiser.
As the old adage goes, 'One man's trash is another man's treasure'
As the old adage goes, 'One man's trash is another man's treasure'
The Westborough Rotary Club’s Environment Committee has organized a drive for collecting and recycling bags and plastics from household waste. Although bags plastics are ubiquitously in use, the economics of recycling them has been generally unattractive for businesses. These plastics eventually make their way in our fresh-water lakes and oceans destroying habitats and damaging the environment. The objective of this drive is to increase awareness of this serious issue and invite community members in the region to become actively involved in addressing it locally.
When Milford hospital physician Katie Northrup approached her friend Kelley Petralia of Westborough Connects asking to help obtain face shields for their staff to combat PPE shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kelley contacted Elliott Rittenberg, President of the Rotary Club of Westborough. Westborough Rotary and Westborough Connects had worked together on a Rotary funded grant over the past year, and Kelley knew she could count on the club for help. Thus, began a Rotary project to source materials and build 100 face shields for donation to Milford Hospital. Elliott reached out to Victor Tom, Past President of the Bedford Rotary Club and current District Grants Subcommittee Chair for help with funding, and Victor suggested to solicit the assistance of other Rotary Clubs.