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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- In the past three years the St. Clairsville Rotary has raised and distributed more than $100,000 to support causes in the community and outside of it.
Melinda Thompson, president of the Rotary, said the club's mission is to make a lasting impact on the community and beyond. It does this through fundraising, donating and contributing to residents and organizations in the community.
"We do some projects in our own name like the food giveaways, but then we also contribute to local charities that do good in the community as well," she said.
The funds raised by the Rotary benefit various community projects including flags across town, veteran's banners, a Jeep raffle for the Belmont County Staying Clean Drug-Free Club effort, painting the map at the elementary school playground, an annual dictionary distribution to third grade classes, helping the homeless in Wheeling, lunches for nurses at COVID-19 testing sites, ringing bells for the Salvation Army, providing water stations at the St. Mary's 5K, purchasing shelter boxes for victims of disaster, contributing to Build a Playground for an orphanage/school in Africa, and more.
The Rotary started a food insecurity project last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic to help those in the community who were having financial difficulties. Thompson said members have provided groceries to about 30 families across the area. Rotarians also held a food giveaway to distribute 120 boxes of food items to those in need and are planning more for the future. It also sponsors an Interact Club at St. Clairsville High School, where participants act as young Rotarians and help execute service activities in the community.
The Rotary meets each week at Marian Hall, where it hosts speakers who provide updates on the community's needs and upcoming events.
"We've hosted a lot of people that tell us about the needs of the charity that they are supporting and how we can help; and that's also where we make announcements and plan food giveaways and other events," she said.
Each year the Rotary holds two major fundraisers that help raise funds for local efforts and charity organizations -- the Spaghetti Dinner and the Taste of the Valley. Thompson said they typically raise around $30,000 between the fundraisers where 90 percent of the money goes toward local projects and charities in the community. Some of the charities the Rotary supports are A Special Wish Foundation, Belmont County Staying Clean Drug-Free Club, Jerry's Walk, Valley Hospice, Belmont County Animal Rescue League, Underground Railroad Museum, the city school district and many more.
"These are things that are near and dear to our hearts and important to our community," she said.
In addition to those two major fundraisers, Thompson said they also select an international project to sponsor. This year the Rotary sponsored a bike-a-thon that was recently held at Barkcamp State Park to support World Bicycle Relief.
"We're hoping in the future we'll do more family-friendly, physical fitness types of things," she said.
Thompson said they are always looking for service-minded professionals to join the Rotary. For more information or to join, call 740-298-3126.
"I'd be happy to invite you to a meeting as my guest so you can see what we're all about and hopefully join us toward our mission," she said.