Rotary Harvest

Posted by Kelly Buck

ROTARY HARVEST GATHERS FOOD FOR TOMPKINS FAMILIES

Ithaca Rotary Club collaborates with Farmers Market, School District to bring fresh food to local tables

The Rotary Club of Ithaca is engaging in its 10^th annual Rotary Harvest food collection during three weekends this summer. On Saturdays, August 20, August 27, and September 3, volunteers from the Ithaca Rotary Club will gather at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market to gather donated produce and other fresh foods to supplement selected families’ meals.

Ithaca Rotarian Heidi Goldstein conceived of the idea in 2007 when she had a booth at the Farmer’s Market. “Children are my passion and I wanted to do something that would directly affect their lives,” says Heidi. “This is very personal for me. This food distribution has a direct impact on our local children.”

Now in its 10^th year, Rotary Harvest has served 51 families, including 168 children. The collaborative effort between the Ithaca Rotary Club, the Ithaca Farmer’s Market, and the Ithaca City School District provides fresh fruits and vegetables and other staples to families who participate in the pre-K meal program. For three weeks in late summer every year, the school meal program is unavailable, so Rotary Harvest helps bridge that gap.

This year, ten families with 37 children will receive fresh food through Rotary Harvest. Five or six Rotarians will meet at the Farmer’s Market each Saturday morning, fill a wagon with fresh produce donated by vendors, and then shop at a local grocery store for meat, cereal, peanut butter, and other necessities. The volunteers then deliver the goods to the recipients’ homes.

Email questions about Rotary Harvest to Heidi Goldstein at hjorganics@aol.com.

The Rotary Club of Ithaca has more than 175 members. Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round.

Ithaca Rotary gathers every Wednesday at 12:15pm for luncheon meetings at Coltivare, 235 South Cayuga Street, downtown Ithaca. The public is welcome to attend and learn more about Rotary; cost is $15 at the door. Additional information about the Rotary Club of Ithaca may be found online at www.ithacarotary.com.