The Waterloo Rotary Membership’s annual Tree of Lights charity drive reached $1 million in whole donations this previous vacation season, marking a serious milestone for a mission that’s been going since 1991.
Tree of Lights coordinator Mark Altadonna, who’s been part of the drive for years now, supplied a quick historical past of the marketing campaign.
“It began a number of a long time in the past when a couple of Rotary members determined that across the Thanksgiving time they might put collectively baskets for Thanksgiving for individuals who possibly have been in want,” Altadonna mentioned.
That first yr, he mentioned, the Waterloo Rotary Membership was in a position to usher in about $5,300. That sum has since grown to an annual objective of about $47,000.
All these funds go to a variety of native charities, meals pantries and different organizations.
In response to a report from the Waterloo Rotary Tree of Lights marketing campaign, the Waterloo Space Church Community and Hope Christian Church Meals Pantry have been the most important particular person recipients this yr, every awarded $4,000 from the funds.
Monroe County Home of Neighborly Service, the Waterloo Senior Heart and Life Community of Southern Illinois additionally obtained among the extra substantial donations at $3,800, $3,700 and $3,300, respectively.
Different recipients this yr included Martha’s Kitchen at St. Paul United Church of Christ, the Waterloo Group Faculty District Wellness Program and St. Vincent de Paul Society in Columbia and Waterloo.
Along with these particular donations, the Tree of Lights marketing campaign additionally gives funds for present certificates that are distributed by way of three native organizations.
“We’ve present certificates printed up across the vacation season that may be redeemed at any Monroe County service provider, and the wellness program at Waterloo Excessive Faculty, the Home of Neighborly Service and Human Help Companies every take $2,500 price of these present certificates and distribute by way of their shoppers across the vacation season,” Altadonna mentioned.
Monroe County Home of Neighborly Service Government Director Tina Charron mentioned the donations are a serious assist annually, with a lot of the funds put towards fuel cash for the group’s shoppers.
“The Tree of Lights checks are extraordinarily useful to us so far as serving to shoppers with fuel,” Charron mentioned. “We use a variety of them for fuel vouchers, for households to have the ability to get forwards and backwards to work. We’ve had some with medical wants and it helps them get forwards and backwards to physician’s appointments.”
Charron mentioned the funds additionally are likely to go towards dairy merchandise, bread and eggs, perishables that aren’t repeatedly in HNS’s meals pantry.
HNS additionally makes use of the funds to assist people and households pay money for vacation necessities, in response to Charron.
Altadonna remarked that the drive lastly reaching the million greenback milestone is because of the neighborhood.
“It’s very thrilling for the Rotary Membership to have hit that milestone,” Altadonna mentioned. “We expect it’s a testomony to the generosity of the individuals in Monroe County, and we’re fairly enthusiastic about having reached that milestone.”
He mentioned that he expects to have a particular expression of gratitude for donors when the Rotary Membership seems in native parades this yr.
Altadonna additionally famous that the mailing listing of main contributors to the drive has shrunk lately as a lot of these donors have handed away.
He mentioned the membership may need to think about methods of increasing that listing, getting a greater concept of who in the neighborhood would have the ability to donate.
These enthusiastic about giving a donation to the Tree of Lights marketing campaign can stay up for doing so later this yr when the drive begins up once more round Thanksgiving.
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