Community Service Opportunities

Clark's Market donates over $2,300 to Sedona Village Rotary Club

Clark’s Market in the Village of Oak Creek donated $2,381.75 to the Sedona Village Rotary Club as part of its “Non-Profit Monday” initiative. This generous contribution represents 5% of Clark's register proceeds from a single day, exemplifying their dedication to giving back to local causes.

This donation will be combined with proceeds from the Rotary Veteran’s Raffle (taking place at Clark’s Nov 10-11), and directed to the Prescott Veterans Medical Center. Funds will go toward essential patient needs, helping to support veterans in our region who rely on this vital facility.

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village  thanks Clark’s Market for their impactful partnership, which will make a meaningful difference in the lives of veterans at Prescott Veterans Medical Center.

For more information, contact Chuck Marr, at president@sedonavillagerotary.org

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Rotary Community Garden Fall Monarch Festival a Village success

Submitted by C. Marr
Rotary Club of Sedona Village
 

A welcoming fall day drew garden enthusiasts to the Rotary Community Garden on October 19 for the Fall Monarch Festival & Plant Sale. The event featured engaging presentations on fall gardening, beekeeping, and the captivating migration of monarch butterflies, offering something for participants of all ages to enjoy.

The festival was enriched by contributions from several community organizations, including the Hummingbird Society, Gardens for Humanity, Verde Valley School students, and the Sedona Bee Company. Together with Rotary, they created a vibrant and educational morning for all attendees.

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village, proud sponsor of the Village Community Garden, provides garden space for local residents. Additionally, dedicated Rotary garden beds grow produce that is donated to local food banks, supporting the community with fresh, healthy food options.

The Fall Monarch Festival was a shining example of community spirit, education, and environmental stewardship coming together in the Village.

East Valley Rotarians turn into 'rosarians!'
 
The Mesa West Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Tempe South recently combined their efforts to renovate the rose garden at Mesa Community College.
 
The revitalization project took place over several weekends in September. According to Mesa West President Gerald Paulus, over 40 Rotarians volunteered to help give a facelift to the community garden.
 
"The Rose Garden is truly a gem in the east valley and the largest rose garden in the Southwest," he said.
 
The two clubs provided funding and over 200 hours of volunteer hours to beautify the garden.
 
"We saw a need and asked our members to help us make the Rose Garden beautiful again. They stepped up along with the Tempe South Rotary Club. Together, we will bring the Rose Garden back to its original beauty."
 
Work included repairing a garden monument, painting walls, power washing the structures, repairing irrigation lines, pulling weeds and more.
 
 
Rotary Club of Sedona Village coordinates mental health training

Village Rotarians hosted Ivy Chamberlin from Matforce Youth Services at our recent Rotary meeting. Ivy provided valuable insights into Matforce's mission to combat substance abuse through education, focusing on K-12 drug prevention programs in the Verde Valley. She highlighted the critical role mental health plays, noting that anxiety and depression among young people often lead to substance use if not addressed with appropriate tools and strategies.

In light of these pressing issues, Carol Hess, President-Elect introduced the Rotary International Mental Health Initiative Rotary Action Group (RAG). The Rotary District and local Rotary Clubs have recognized the urgent need for community support in this area.

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is spearheading an initiative to address this need. We are collaborating with all Rotary Clubs in Sedona and the Verde Valley to offer a comprehensive full-day training on Saturday, February 1, 2025. The training will commence at 9 AM, and participants will be required to complete an hour of pre-training homework to prepare effectively.

For additional details about the training, please contact Ivy at 928-708-0100 or Carol Hess at 916-690-7085.

During this training, the following essential skills will be addressed:

•              Assessing the risk of suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, anxiety, and depression

•              Listening non-judgmentally

•              Providing reassurance and information

•              Encouraging appropriate professional help

•              Promoting self-help strategies and other support resources

•              Recognizing common signs and symptoms of mental health issues and substance use

•              Offering information about local resources

 

While this training primarily focuses on youth, the skills and knowledge gained will also be beneficial for addressing similar issues in adults.

We encourage everyone involved with youth in our community to mark your calendars and take advantage of this opportunity to enhance skills and support our young people effectively.

Rotary Club of Sedona Village awards summer camp scholarships

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is proud to announce that it has awarded a total of $4,280 this year in summer camp scholarships to select local families, benefiting children from pre-kindergarten to high school age.  An additional $1,135 was recently awarded along with the $3,145 of funds that were disbursed as part of the club's previous initiative in April, where five students from Sedona Red Rock High-Middle School were awarded summer camp scholarships.

Just this week, the Rotary Club stepped up for the 2nd time this year, to support the community by awarding scholarships to seven children for summer camp programs offered through City of Sedona Parks and Recreation.

Derek Bond, father of student camper Daymon Bond, expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for the email and for sponsoring my son, Daymon Bond! He is really excited about the camp and really appreciates you selecting him.” Allison Depuydt, mother of two twin camper students, shared her excitement, "I just registered them for the class …!! Yay!! We’re so excited!”

The Rotary Club of Sedona Village has a dedicated youth services committee with a proven track record of assisting local families with the financial burden of summer enrichment camps. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the club has been able to provide even more scholarships this year, with a special focus on STEM-themed programs. Holly Johnson of the Village Rotary Club was the organizer of this year's scholarship program.

The Rotary Club invites community members who are interested in contributing to or helping organize community service initiatives like this to contact them for more information.

For further details, please contact Jennette Bill, Rotary Club of Sedona Village Youth Services Chair, at JLBill@outlook.com or 928-301-1363

About Rotary Club of Sedona Village: The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is committed to serving the community through various initiatives that support education, health, and community development. By providing scholarships and other forms of support, the club aims to make a positive impact on the lives of local families and children.

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