The Rotary Million Meals project is a joint effort
with
Stop Hunger Now
to produce 1,000,000 dehydrated, high-protein meals by June
30, 2007. All clubs in District 7710 are working to achieve
that goal, as well as funding a minimum of 50% of the cost
of the project. The meals will be shipped to areas around
the world in coordination with local Rotary Clubs in the
target countries.
Annual
Spaghetti Dinner:
in mid-October our club goes into overdrive at Durham's Old
Armory, cooking tons of spaghetti with meatballs to feed
Durham's hungry business community and raise money for
local charities. The profits are donated to local charities
and other projects supported by the club, e.g. the Durham
Rescue Mission, the YMCA, San Ramon, Durham Hospice, Lake
Waccamaw Camp and Habitat for Humanity.
San Ramon:
our club is actively involved with various projects helping
the municipality of
San Ramon
located 90 miles north east of Managua in Nicaragua. Of the
30,000 inhabitants, 26,000 live in remote hamlets. The
others live in the town which includes a health clinic,
library, school, and municipal offices. The people live
largely by cultivating cash crops such as coffee, corn, and
beans; by raising cattle; and by practicing subsistence
agriculture. Unemployment and malnutrition are widespread,
only 20% of school-aged children attend school. Currently
we are working on a project to ensure a safe and continuous
drinking water supply for the inhabitants of San Ramon. In
the past we have funded a teaching farm for local farmers
to learn soil preservation, fertilization from natural
resources, selection of natural pesticides, and collective
sales to get better prices for their
products.
Durham Families in Need:
each year our club holds an auction to raise funds which
are used to buy Christmas presents and food for families in
need. The White Elephant auction is held during our regular
meeting and members enjoy a festive event while raising
funds to help many families celebrate the holiday. The club
also participates in the Salvation Army Bell Ringing
campaign.
Youth Support:
our club is dedicated to assisting the youth in Durham, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged. The club participates in the Rotary against Drugs speech contest and the Four-Way Test Essay contest.