The Rotary Club of Goodyear PebbleCreek, just recently chartered as a new Club, is actively engaged in a variety of community service projects that will better the lives of some of the underserved members of our local area. The holiday season is an especially hard time for families who are trying to put food on the table and have something to put under the Christmas tree for their children. The club, now 25 members, is volunteering for important charitable efforts.
During the Christmas season, the PebbleCreek rang the bells for the Salvation Army.
 
Rotarian Pat Enyeart said, “People are very generous and feel the need to help others. The children are the funniest to watch as they put in their change in the red bucket. The smiles are incredible. The Salvation Army is a great community partner and helps to fill a tremendous community need.”
 
Also in the spirit of the holiday season, the club purchased and members volunteered to deliver holiday food boxes and books for each child to families in  need in the Goodyear community. According to President Joan Smith, one team delivering realized the family didn’t have a Christmas tree, so they went home and found a used one. On checking back with the family, the children had made Christmas ornaments and told the Rotarians this was the first Christmas tree they had ever had. We are always pleased to see the smiling faces and thankfulness of each family when making our deliveries. Goodyear Rotary clubs have been delivering food boxes for more than 10 years.
 
PebbleCreek has also volunteered to “adopt” a stretch of PebbleCreek Parkway from Indian School Road to Virginia Avenue, which spans the PebbleCreek community. Club members will be walking the parkway the first Saturday of each month collecting trash and refuse in an effort to keep their community clean and tidy.
 
The club meets each Wednesday from 7-8 a.m. in the Chianti Room of the Tuscany Falls Clubhouse. For further information about the Rotary Club of Goodyear PebbleCreek, contact Joan Smith, club president, jbsmith80@aol.com or 503-348-9468.
 
The Rotary Club of Litchfield Park was recently showcased in a local magazine, "The Park," which is distributed to over 5,000 local residents. From their article, a main focus of the club is to increase literacy. As such, it annually raises funds to buy books for the Litchfield Park Elementary School Library. Additionally, the club contributes to several other local organizations such as the Homeless Youth Connection, The New Live Center for domestic violence victims, The Boys Scouts of America and Arts in the Park. They meet Friday mornings at 7 a.m. at the Arizona Kitchen in the Wigwam Resort. 
 
The Estrella Rotary Club has been busy this holiday season. They started off in November co-hosting the 9th Annual Veterans Day Luncheon, drove golf carts for the handicapped at PIR, finalized their RYLA interviews and served a wonderful Thanksgiving lunch at the Avondale Senior Center. In December, they hosted their holiday party and invited several area Rotary Clubs. They had a great evening of food, fun and fellowship. They also made their annual donation to the Aqua Fria Food Bank to assist in their annual toy drive. They ended the year serving tasty lunches for Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Avondale Senior Center. The Estrella Rotary Club is hoping that everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Meetings are on Tuesday, from 12-1 p.m. at LaBona in Litchfield Park. 
The Buckeye Rotary Club continues to stay busy. Their list of community give-backs encompasses everyone from the ages of 1 week to 101. Please visit the Buckeye Club and check out all of their giving traditions. They meet Thursday at noon. Contact Deanna@Buckeyevalleychamber.org
 
Goodyear White Tanks has a new meeting day and time. Please visit them at The Haymaker every Tuesday, at noon. Contact Armin@azsafari.com 
 
The Verrado Community is in the beginning stages of charting a Rotary Club. Their first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 11, 2018 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. This Thursday morning club is being lead under the guidance of long-time Rotarian Carl Goin. If you would like to be a charter member in Verrado's Club or know someone who lives in the Verrado, area please have them contact Carl at Carlgoin@yahoo.com