The Rotary Club of West Reading-Wyomissing applied for and was awarded a grant from Rotary District 7430 to support COVID-19 relief efforts in our local community. We engaged and collaborated with Co-County Wellness Services since they were designated the contact tracing agency within our community.
“When our club learned there was grant money available for clubs to use in their own backyard to assist with Covid-19 related causes, we knew we had to act quickly. The West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary Club is active in the community and willing to lend a hand for our neighbors in need. This was an easy to execute and far-reaching project providing a great benefit to our local community.” said Carolyne Jordan, President-Elect for the Rotary Club of West Reading-Wyomissing. “We appreciate Commissioner Barnhardt’s office for connecting our two organizations.”
Co-County Wellness Services has been key in meeting Berks County response during the COVID pandemic and we reached out to them to identify current needs including contact tracing. They requested we focus on providing COVID safety supplies to keep clients and staff safe along with food items to support people who are not able to leave home to shop for groceries.
Carolyn Bazik, Executive Director of Co-County Wellness Services said, “We are grateful to the West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary for their support. The supplies this grant paid for will help keep our clients and staff safe. The food drive will allow us to continue to meet the needs of individuals and families facing food security issues resulting from COVID-19 isolation and quarantine.”
Thanks to our fellow Rotarians and community participants our food drive at the Berkshire Blvd. Redner’s Fresh Market on March 20th was a great success. We collected 43 large (and heavy) boxes filled with non-perishable foods, and $220.00 in cash that we turned into Redner’s gift cards for Co-County Wellness Services to purchase perishable foods when needed. Canned meats, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, rice and beans and pastas were among the foods donated. Additionally, the West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary club provided reusable bags to transport the food to the people in need. COVID safety supplies donated included 3 cases of Nitrile Gloves and a case of N95 masks.
The Rotary motto is “Service Above Self”.
