Rotarians Jeff Melanson, Michele Prince, Andrea Pasco and Dan Eccher volunteered to help distribute hundreds of LLBean backpacks filled with school supplies at the South End Neighborhood Association's 18th Annual "South End National Night Out Event on August 6 at the Green Street Park in Waterville.
Club member Jim Chapman, Advisor of the Kennebec Valley Business Club and Student Senate also volunteered at the festival. The students offered face painting and a ring toss game with prizes. They loved spending time with the community and are looking forward to future collaborations
Despite 90F+ record breaking temperatures on Wednesday June 19, Rotary volunteers weeded and mulched gardens at the Riverwalk at Head of Falls, one of our club's signature projects.
Plan to join us in Waterville - on June 21, 22, and 23 for the 2024 District Conference. Our Keynote Speaker will be Kevin Hines, author, filmmaker, mental health advocate, and suicide prevention activist. There will be amazing speakers, interactive activities, a summer garden party, a House of Friendship, and many opportunities to experience Hope in Action! 
Our club was happy to join the Sunrise Club to collect toothpaste for the Waterville Area Essentials Closet. Over 5 dozen tubes of toothpaste was donated by club members. The Closet is a program of the 1srt Congregational Church of Waterville and provides personal and household items for community members in need. They have served over 1650 different people who represent more than 4500 family members in their homes.
Members of our club participated in the South End Neighborhood Association 
At a recent club meeting, Dan Eccher, club president and Michele Prince, Community Services Chair present Paula Raymond of the South End Neighborhood Association (SENA) a check for $1500.00 to support purchase of bikes for SENA's annual bicycle program.
The Waterville Rotary club continues to support local non[profits who address food insecurity in our community. The club recently made $1,000 donations to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, The Winslow Community Cupboard and the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen. On 2/26 representatives attended a club meeting/luncheon and were recognized for their efforts in addressing hunger in our communities.
At the club meeting on Monday February 12, Dan Eccher, Club President presented a check for $890.00 to Keith Davis, of the Salvation Army. The funds were collected as "cups and fines" at meetings during the months of November and December 2023.
Ron Joseph, author of "Bald Eagles, Bear Cubs, and Hermit Bill: Memories of a Wildlife Biologist In Maine" talked to our club about his 30 years of working in the woods of the northern and western part of the state. At one of the largest attended club meetings, Ron, a retired Maine wildlife biologist, spoke of growing up on his grandparent's farm in Mercer and related many anecdotes about his encounters with wildlife throughout his career. 
Dan Parks, former member of our Rotary Club and now member of the Wilmington East Rotary Club in North Carolina poses with his wife and Svaitlana and Natasha and their two children who recently fled Ukraine with nothing more than their suitcases. Their husbands were not allowed to leave with them.. With the help of Dan's club they settled in Wilmington and are learning English. Dan thanked our club for our $4000 donation which helped them move into an apartment, get a small car and help build a sense of normalcy for themselves and their children. They now have jobs. 
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