Rotarians offer the ‘Gift of Life’ to the underserved

The Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club has lived by one slogan for more than 75 years: service above self. And this still resonates as the group continues to save lives of those from underprivileged communities.

In fact, Rotary members had a chance to see that firsthand when two people who directly benefited from the group’s Gift of Life program met at a meeting last month. And they’re not just any Gift of Life beneficiaries — they’re the first and the most recent.

Grace Agwaru of Uganda, was the Gift of Life’s first patient back in 1975. Thalissa Raymond, 9, of Haiti, was No, 40,000.

Rotary Partners With Local Food Pantries
Every year Freeport Merrick Rotary club donates to pantries within the community.  Learn more about this endeavor in the Freeport Herald News Paper
Rotary Club runs drive for Haiti earthquake relief

On Aug. 14, Haiti — the Caribbean island nation ravaged by an earthquake in 2010 — was struck again by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. With more than 130,000 buildings destroyed, more than 12,000 injuries, and close to 2,500 deaths, it is the deadliest natural disaster of 2021 so far. Relief efforts were immediate in providing help to the communities affected, many of them rural and poverty stricken.

The Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club, which has many members who are Haitian, was among the many to join the relief efforts. Having already held one successful drive, the club is still accepting donations, and has described their efforts as “ongoing.”

“The first portion of the drive has been completed,” Rotary Club member Jordan Pecora told the Herald. Pecora is the head of the club’s membership committee and  their public image committee.

Continued Support for Haiti
Freeport Merrick Rotary club has continued its effort to help Haiti after being rocked by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on August 14. 

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Help for Haiti
We are doing our best to raise money and buy supplies to help Haiti. Florence has greatly aided in collaborating various Rotary Clubs within our district and in Haiti to help move much needed supplies to the areas heavily affected by this earthquake. But much more work is needed.
 
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The Torch Is Passed
Former President, Florence MarcCharles passes the torch to Marc Rigueur.  He plans to continue the good work
Marc Rigueur Becomes The New President
New Leadership has been installed on June 24th of the Freeport Merrick Rotary Club.  
Former President, Florence MarcCharles passed the torch but will remain an active participant in the Rotary Club.
Finding Fellowship Through The Rotary Club
Finding Fellowship through Rotary Club
Read full article about our organization here!
Rotary Continues To Donate During the Pandemic
Read the article about Rotary donating PPE to PAL!
Florence Marc-Charles Continues Her Charitable Work
Read the full article about our very own, Florence Mar-Charles. Click the link below and navigate to page 13.
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Rotary Donates more PPE
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Honoring Ed Monroe
 
Resident of Freeport, member of the Freeport Merrick Rotary club, past president of our club past district governor of Rotary district 7250, Tuskegee airman, active member of the Freeport community. Our hero the one and only Ed Monroe. Let us remember him on black history month
Freeport-Merrick Rotary does its part during the pandemic

For more than 75 years, the Freeport-Merrick Rotary has lived by one motto: “Service above self.” And although the pandemic has hindered the club’s usual fundraising efforts, members have continued to extend a helping hand to those who need it most.

“It’s a small club . . . but we do what we can with what we have,” said Vice President Marc Rigueur.

Freeport-Merrick Rotary steps up to help

For 75 years, the Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club has lived by its motto, “Service above self.” 

But the Rotary has faced many obstacles since the coronavirus pandemic broke out last March. The organization, which depends on public events for fundraising and community contact, faced dissipating funds and obscurity as large events were canceled and people fell into financial hardship, said club President Florence Marc-Charles, of Queens Village.