TUESday, august 13, 2024

John Vargo of Youngstown State University will join us for lunch Wednesday and provide a preview of the YSU football season. The Penguins will open their season Thursday at Villanova and play their home opener on Sept. 7 vs. Valparaiso.

The Operation Warm Committee seeks monetary donations by Sept. 1 for the 2024 children’s coat drive. The suggested donation is $20 per coat. Please contribute at this week’s meeting to assist the committee in placing a timely order.

When Claire Hawkins’ mother needed dependable, accessible transportation, she didn’t complain about it not being available, she did something about it. In April 2022, Claire started her own transportation business, TCT Transportation company.

TCT will not only take riders to the Cleveland airport, but also to YSU, doctors’ appointments, and grocery stores. She provides rides to those without a car so their children can get to school, a service which Claire feels is invaluable.

Claire would love to expand her business, but her two biggest challenges are vehicles and funding. She needs additional vehicles to transport more riders, get a wheelchair lift for her SUV, and funding to purchase it all. Find out more about TCT Transportation at www.tcttransportation.com.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are needed for the next Night Market and Octoberfest at Penguin City Beer on Saturday, Sept. 21, from noon until 6 p.m. Let Stacia Erdos Littleton know if you can help. Donations will be taken that day for Operation Warm and will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Prest Public Strategies and Steelite International. Thank you to both!

Stay tuned for dates and times for the annual Salvation Army bell ringing. Once again it will be held at the Southern Park Mall. 

Announcements

Permanent and / or part-time bowlers are needed for the YoRo bowling team. Bowling is held at Amron Lanes in Canfield on Tuesday evenings and begins at 6:30. Call Frank Kishel if you are interested.

RSVP to President George if you’d like to attend the End of Summer pool party – see the graphic for details.

Rotary Spirit wear will be available for purchase in mid-September. If you’d like to see something different than what’s been offered previously, then let Aundréa Heschmeyer know.

Operation Warm is getting a big push this year. Kudos to Committee Co-Chair Stacia Erdos on her heartwarming column in the Business Journal. You can read on our Facebook page if you missed it last week.

Stacia and Co-Chair Dave Stillwagon also have support from Richie Bernacki and Aspacia Lyras-Bernacki, co-owners of Penguin City Beer, who gave RCY space during the Night Market on Aug. 15 to accept monetary contributions. We’ll do that again on Sept. 21, during Penguin City’s Oktoberfest celebration.

The goal this year is to raise $20,000 by Sept. 1 to secure 1,000 coats for city school children in grades Kindergarten through six. Here are ways you can help:

• Make a personal contribution or solicit donations from friends, family, employers, local businesses and more. The suggested donation is $20 per coat. Checks should be payable to The Youngstown Rotary Foundation and mailed to 201 E. Commerce St., Suite 450, Youngstown, OH 44503. Donations are tax deductible.

• Visit the club’s Facebook page and share our messages within your social media circles.

• Work a 2-hour shift at the RCY table on Sept. 21. Contact Stacia to sign up. 

Talk about heartwarming – have you seen this thank-you note that Rotary received after last year’s drive?

Official Visit by District Governor Elayne Bozick, noon Sept. 18, Wick Park Pavilion.

Operation Warm Donation Drive at Penguin City Oktoberfest, noon-6 Sept. 21, Penguin City Brewing Co., 460 E. Federal St.

Keystone Plants in Your Pollinator Patch