Newsletter

Changing Locations
Vashti Support

As we look forward to moving back to the Plaza on Thursday, March 5, the club has committed to supporting Vashti in a variety of ways.

Vashti has been a focus for our club’s service since the club’s founding in 1921. During the past year, meetings on the Vashti campus and interactions with staff and students helped members more fully understand the critical support the organization provides to more than 500 children and their families throughout our region.

Members of the Rotary Club donated $8,125 to Vashti during our final regular club meeting at Vashti last week.

Additionally, at our Feb. 12 meeting, service projects chair Melanie Cromartie announced a committee to provide ongoing and annual support to the children who benefit from Vashti services. If you would like to join in any of these efforts, please contact Marta Jones-Turner and/or the lead noted below:

Regular Projects:

• Birthday cakes: 20 cakes and birthday celebrations per year (Marta)
• Students assist/attend Rotary Meetings: 1 or 2 Vashti students will attend Rotary meetings weekly, serve tea and water, and congregate with Rotarians (Devona Thompson)
• Students assist at monthly fresh produce market: Students to volunteer alongside Rotarians at produce distribution (Mike Beaty)
• Graduation celebrations: Coordinate graduation celebration and gift baskets for Vashti residents who complete high school (Marcy Sizemore, Laura Pike)
• Little Library: Build, install, and manage a community Little Library on campus (Andy Vann)
• Lifestyle classes: Join Vashti Connectors in offering monthly lifestyle classes. What would you teach your own children that you can also teach the children who live at Vashti? Sewing, cooking, changing tires, tying a tie – the sky is the limit! (Kellie Merck, Marcy Sizemore, Devona Thompson)

Annual Projects

• Off-campus spring break cookout: Provide a cookout and enrichment activity during spring break for the residential students at Vashti (Mike Beaty, Paul Overstreet, Tony Lloyd)
• Rotary workday: Work with Vashti staff to establish and execute a project plan for an annual workday to work on landscaping, building repairs, painting, etc. (Angela Williamson, Jim Bue, David Sofferin, Tony Lloyd
• Vashti fundraising: Encourage donations from club members to support Vashti with annual gifts, and consider other fundraising opportunities (Andy Vann)

How can you support Vashti? 

Wednesday, Feb. 18
Coffee Chat

Join us tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb. 18) at Grassroots Coffee anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. for a cup of coffee and a casual conversation with fellow Rotarians! Stay long enough to enjoy breakfast and get to know your fellow Rotarians better or grab your coffee to go. No agenda, no program. 

Thursday, Feb. 19 & Saturday, Feb. 21
Sort, Pack & Distribute Fresh Produce

The club will meet on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 11:30 a.m. at Second Harvest Food Bank to pack food boxes for this month's fresh produce distribution. After we finish packing, enjoy a box lunch with the team or grab one to go. Please join us!

We'll distribute our fresh produce boxes on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Weston Park. Set-up begins at 7:30 a.m., and distribution begins at 8:30 a.m. or as soon as we are ready.

Each month, we distribute more than 25 pounds of fresh produce and a protein to more than 200 community members in need. Those who benefit from the project complete USDA paperwork validating their household income before they receive assistance, and often are in line to receive produce several hours before set up begins at 7:30 a.m. 

Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or trying it out for the first time, we’d love to see you there. Bring your energy, your smile, and maybe a friend or two! 

Thursday, Feb. 26
Hands & Hearts for Horses Field Trip

Next week – Thursday, Feb. 26 – the Rotary Club will go on a field trip to visit Hands & Hearts for Horses.  Rotarian and program director Susie Shin will provide lunch and an activity on the grounds before speaker Fran Gilbert gives us an overview of Sportsability Alliance and its work to enrich lives through accessible, inclusive recreation and active leisure.

Hands & Hearts for Horses is celebrating 25 years of changing lives through therapeutic horsemanship. Be sure to join us for this special meeting!

Thursday, March 5
Regular Meeting Location Update

On Thursday, March 5, regular club meetings will return to the Plaza Restaurant at 12:15 p.m. Third Thursday meetings at Second Harvest to pack produce will continue at 11:30 a.m.

As part of the transition, service projects chair Melanie Cromartie has announced a team to strengthen the club’s relationship with the Vashti Center. 

Plan ahead: Saturday, March 21
Thomasville Ritz Music Festival

The Thomasville R.E.A.D. Foundation and the Rotary Club of Thomasville are planning the inaugural Thomasville Ritz Music Festival on Saturday, March 21, featuring an incredible variety of music performances – country, R&B, country rock, pop, southern soul funk, and music from some of the best DJs in the Southeast.  

Proceeds from the festival will benefit R.E.A.D. and power its literacy initiative and support other life-changing programs and partnerships for children in K-12 schools in our community.

To become a sponsor or for more information, contact Stephan Thompson (404.488.2761). To volunteer, contact Angela Williamson (229.977.2657).