It all begins with our Rotarians!
On August 9th, Project Chair, Wanda Whipkey, along with committee members Lynda Farkas and Ben Heckerman participated in the Shoebox Project for the Children of the Dump in Nicaragua. The club was able to use this project as a way to collaborate with the Interact Students from North School and upcoming seniors, Neema and Nul (pictured to the left) helped with shopping and the packing of shoeboxes.
With the generous donations from our club, the committee was able to successfully fill 30 boxes. Shopping was done at a local Walmart and a very special thank you goes to the Messiah Lutheran Church for the use of their community kitchen for the packing of the boxes. After the boxes were filled, Stew and Cherie Buchanan delivered them to the project collection area in Lakewood.
If you are unfamiliar with the project, every year clubs from all of over the United States prepare shoeboxes for children in Chinandega, Nicaragua who live in poverty stricken conditions in the area surrounding a dump site. The shoeboxes are filled with necessities including toiletries, clothing, school supplies and age appropriate games or toys. The shoeboxes are shipped to Nicaragua and Rotarians travel along to help personally deliver them to the children.
The shoeboxes serve as an incentive to the children to remain in school. In order to receive one of the gift shoeboxes, the child must be attending school on a regular basis and earning satisfactory grades. The goal is to break the cycle of poverty by providing food, education and programs to encourage good health. The ultimate goal is to relocate the children from the dump to a life of dignity.
This is an extremely impactful project and our club looks forward to continuing to be involved for years to come.
 Ben Heckerman |  Lynda Farkas |
 Neema, Nul, Linda, and Wanda |  Wanda Whipkey |
