Abigail Morgan is the Chief Executive Officer at Direction Home Akron Canton. Her team is responsible for strategic and operational planning, provider relations, project & performance management, development, quality improvement, and new programs. She has worked with the Aging Network for 15+ years and has the privilege of working with Area Agencies on Aging all over the country. Prior to working at Direction Home, Abby held positions at the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (USAging), Administration for Community Living (ACL), and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Abby has a Master's in Social Services and a Master's in Law and Social Policy from Bryn Mawr College, and a Master's in Business Administration/Data Analytics from Ohio University. She is a national speaker on community-integrated health networks, a trained facilitator for Organizing for Health, and Leadership Akron Graduate, Class 39.
If you have not yet completed the training - another email will be coming your way!
All members of The Rotary Club of Akron should have received an email from "NAYEN Training Administrator noreply@nayen.org" regarding the mandatory annual Youth Protection training for the 2025 Rotary year.
This training is required for all active Akron Rotarians. Please check your inbox—and don’t forget to look in your spam or junk folders.
Additionally, Rotarians who expect to have more direct interaction with our exchange student or youth programs will receive a separate email from "Rotary Youth Volunteer Management RYEmail-YVM@yehub.net" for a more in-depth background check, including vetting of references and an interview.
Your prompt attention to this matter is appreciated to ensure compliance, and your ability to participate in Rotary events where youth are present.
Please contact Youth Protection Officer, Mike Gladysz, with any questions or if you need me to resend the training to you. I can be reached at Michael.h.gladysz@huntington.com or by phone at 330-807-7986.
We are two months into the new Rotary year, and I am truly enjoying representing our club and helping to lead us forward.
Recently, we welcomed Sheriff Kandy Fatheree as our guest speaker. She shared her office’s efforts to reduce recidivism by helping individuals in custody further their education—earning GEDs or high school diplomas—so they are better prepared for employment upon release.
During the discussion, Rotarian Susan Colville-Hall asked how we, as a community, can help. Sheriff Fatheree’s answer was simple: donate books.
Why Now?
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month for Rotary International—making this the perfect opportunity for Akron Rotarians to support this important initiative.
How You Can Help
We’re organizing a Book Drive for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
Bring your gently used adult-level books to any Tuesday Rotary meeting during September.
We’ll arrange delivery to the Sheriff’s Office so these books can be put to good use.
Together, we can make a meaningful difference—one book at a time!
🤝 Growing Stronger Together
As we progress through this Rotary year, let’s take time to welcome our new Rotarians. One simple way is by inviting them to sit with you at lunch.
I’ve noticed that many of us (myself included!) gravitate to the same tables every week. It’s comfortable, but it means we aren’t always mixing and mingling as much as we could. Honestly, I often sit in the same spot for easy access to the podium—but let’s be real, there’s no such thing as a podium emergency! I can make it there anytime. 😄
So, let’s all make an extra effort to sit with different people, get to know one another better, and help our new members feel welcomed and connected.
And don’t forget—our service committee continues to share great volunteer opportunities. Serving side by side, even for just an hour, is one of the very best ways to build friendships and deepen your Rotary experience.
Let’s make this year one of connection, service, and impact. I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday—let’s keep moving forward together!
As a Rotarian we have an essential role to help Luciana learn more about the Rotary Clubs of Akron/Stow, Stow/Akron and American life in general. With opportunities to meet a variety of individuals through multiple events, she will learn more about American life, culture and lifestyle. Making multiple acquaintances helps her dispel stereotypes of “Americans”. At the same time, sharing activities with Lu provides us the opportunity to clarify more about American culture and our own community as well as learn about Lu’s home environment as we ask her about life in Peru. Just a family meal at our home may be the easiest way to get to know her or we can invite her to a picnic, family reunion or sporting event. Those are always a sure thing because she is bundle of joy, fluent in English and interested in so many things and in meeting people. A visit to the local ice cream shop is always a big hit! Finding other students to introduce her to American school culture is so important as she does not have a host sibling in her current situation.
Places she has been: Geauga County Fair, Lion King at Blossom, Stow-Munroe Falls HS (SMFHS) football games, Akron Rotary Camp, Cleveland Museum of Art & Murakami exhibit, Little Italy, Szaley’s, Rubber Ducks.
Below are other possibilities (although the same place may be different 2nd time around) in the Akron Community:
Concerts in the parks, hikes in the local parks or Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a Blossom Music Center event, a cruise on the Portage Lakes, a Rubber Ducks baseball game, a visit to the University of Akron campus, the Akron Art Museum and ArtSpace, an Akron Symphony concert, local fairs or festivals, the Don Drumm Studio, Akron Public Library, a City Hall visit, Hale Farm, an E.J. Thomas Hall event (concert, dance recital, Broadway musical), Akron Civic Theater event, a high school football game (high school basketball, soccer game, swim meet, etc.), UA/KSU football (basketball or soccer game), biking on the Tow Path, shopping at Summit Mall are just some of the many activities she would enjoy.
Below are a few possibilities in Northeast Ohio
Kent State University campus (including the School of Fashion Museum), Great Lakes Science Center, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an Indians game, a Cavs game / etc., a Cleveland Orchestra concert.
HOST FAMILY SEARCH: We are seeking a 2nd Host Family for January – mid March. We need a 3rd host family for the period after spring break (mid- March) to her departure in June.
Volunteers are needed for the One Hot Meal and Food Pantry at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
We began helping the folks at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church with their One Hot Meal Program the week of Thanksgiving in 2024 and had a wonderful Rotarian turnout to help serve.
The Rotarians involved loved the project and the the Church now does this once a month, on a smaller scale.
We have scheduled volunteer opportunities to serve once a month through the end of the calendar year.
Time: 4:45 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 129 S. Union Street, Akron, OH 44304
Click on the respective Tuesday below to view available time slots and book yourself to volunteer directly online.
It is time again for our semi monthly service project. We're teaming up to support the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank (ACRFB). Together we'll help ensure that families in our community have access to the food and resources they need.
Please also note the new parking instructions below.
Details of Event:
When: Wednesday September 24th
RSVP by Friday September 19th.
Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Where: Akron Canton Regional Food Bank, 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, OH 44307.
This is a great opportunity to bond with fellow Rotarians while making an impact in our community.
The service project typically involves breaking down large containers of food into smaller portions for redistribution to area food pantries.
How to RSVP by Friday September 19th.
Please let me know if you're able to join us by replying to me at dhall@preferredlegacy.com or texting me at 330-714-1044. Family and friends are welcome so please bring a guest.
NEW! PARKING INSTRUCTIONS
We have an exciting update to share; our new volunteer parking area is now ready. It's located just south of our existing Dart Avenue lot, and starting now, we are asking all volunteers to park in this new lot.
Volunteer parking is located in the Blue Lot, which should be accessed via Entrance A on Dart Avenue. Please use this entrance rather than entering from Opportunity Parkway.
Dart Avenue is a one-way street. Depending on your route, you may need to circle the block to reach it (Opportunity to Pier to Bartges to Dart).
When heading north on Dart Avenue, Entrance A will be the first entrance on your right.
Entrances B and C (second and third entrances) are reserved for our network partners and pantry neighbors - please avoid using these to keep traffic flowing safely.
Once you've parked, please follow the sidewalk toward Dart Avenue and use the city sidewalks to walk to our main entrance on Opportunity Parkway.
Handicap-accessible spaces remain available in front of the building on Opportunity Parkway.
IF YOU HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED BEFORE AT THE FOOD BANK THEN I NEED YOU TO REGISTER WITH ACRFB. See volunteer application link below.
If you have any questions please call or text me.
Let's come together to embody the Rotary spirit and make this event a success. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you there!
IF YOU HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED BEFORE AT THE FOOD BANK THEN I NEED YOU TO REGISTER WITH ACRFB.
See volunteer application link below.
If you have any questions please call or text me.
Let's come together to embody the Rotary spirit and make this event a success. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you there!
When you arrive, please park in the front of the building or in the Dart Avenue parking lot. Use the front glass doors to enter the building.
If the parking lot is full, please park in the grass lot or proceed to the Shipping and Receiving parking lot on the other side of the building.
If entering through Shipping and Receiving, enter through the RED visitor door and proceed to the front desk.
We also recommend carpooling when possible.
What to wear:
Face Masks are optional.
Safety is our priority! Please note that open-toed shoes are not permitted in the warehouse.Jewelry is not permitted in the clean- room and we recommend wearing limited jewelry when volunteering.
Comfortable shoes are recommended as you may be on your feet the entire time.
It is best to dress in layers. The weather outside may affect the temperature inside the warehouse.
AKRON-CANTON REGIONAL FOODBANK Main 330.535.6900 Main Campus 350 Opportunity Pkwy, Akron, OH 44307 We envision a thriving community free of hunger.
Akron Rotary is continuing its support of the supplemental food service program through Open M to help provide food for insecure students at Innes Middle School.
SIGN UP to view available slots and book yourself directly online.
Event:
Open M Backpack Food Packing
Date:
Wednesdays Through Dec 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Chair:
Sandy Naragon 330-256-5315
Location:
Open M 941 Princeton Street Akron, OH United States of America 44311
Katy Miller
As a Rotarian we have an essential role to help Luciana learn more about the Rotary Clubs of Akron/Stow, Stow/Akron and American life in general. With opportunities to meet a variety of individuals through multiple events, she will learn more about American life, culture and lifestyle. Making multiple acquaintances helps her dispel stereotypes of “Americans”. At the same time, sharing activities with Lu provides us the opportunity to clarify more about American culture and our own community as well as learn about Lu’s home environment as we ask her about life in Peru. Just a family meal at our home may be the easiest way to get to know her or we can invite her to a picnic, family reunion or sporting event. Those are always a sure thing because she is bundle of joy, fluent in English and interested in so many things and in meeting people. A visit to the local ice cream shop is always a big hit! Finding other students to introduce her to American school culture is so important as she does not have a host sibling in her current situation.
