Service Projects
Service Projects
Harvest & Wine Festival - Chair: Ron Furman & Mike Markovitz
Every October, the Tunkhannock Rotary Club holds a Harvest & Wine Festival at Lazybrook Park in Tunkhannock, PA. The Festival attracts approximately 60 wine, food and craft vendors with music provided throughout the day by 2 alternating bands. The Festival takes place rain or shine. The 12th Annual Harvest & Wine Festival will take place Oct 12, 2019.
The Harvest and Wine Festival is the major fund-raiser for the Tunkhannock Rotary Club. It allows the Club to fund the annual July 3rd fireworks display, provide donations to local non-profit organizations and support a variety of activities to benefit our youth and our community. Additionally, the club provides funds for international programs, including polio eradication, as well as, relief efforts for victims of natural disasters in the US and internationally.
Candy Cane Day - Chair: Mike Markovitz
Every year on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving), Tunkhannock Rotarians collect monetary donations from shoppers at various shopping locations within Tunkhannock to buy toys for kids for Christmas. Shoppers are offered candy canes as a treat for their donations. This fund-raising event has been undertaken by the Tunkhannock Rotary Club for more than 25 years.
Since 2009, Tunkhannock Interact Club members joined in to help raise money for "toys for local kids".
The money raised is divided between Interfaith Friends and Wyoming County Children & Youth to buy Christmas gifts for children in need or in foster care in Wyoming County. The generosity of the shoppers has made this a very successful fund-raising event for the Club and ensures that children in need or in foster care in Wyoming County, receive at least one toy/gift for Christmas.
July 3rd Fireworks - Co-chairs: Mike Markovitz & Samantha Maruzzelli
Every July 3rd, the Tunkhannock Rotary Club presents an outstanding firework display for everyone in Tunkhannock and surrounding areas. The evening begins with music, a brief military salute and then the fireworks display. Families and friends picnic on the lawn and enjoy each other’s company. Donations are gratefully accepted to help defray costs but it is free for everyone.
Roadside Cleanup -Co-chairs: Laura Charles and Terri Detrick
Twice a year, in the Spring and Fall, Tunkhannock Rotarians clean-up the road side along Route 6 from the Fireside Restaurant onward. Although much of the material found is garbage and debris, other more interesting things have also been found such as money, shoes, pants and miscellaneous items.
Drug Take Back Outreach - Co-chairs: Frank Oliver & Ruth Gorski
The Wyoming County Drug Take Back Days (originally coordinated by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency - DEA) take place twice a year in the Tunkhannock Area. Although the Wyoming County District Attorney’s (DA) office runs this program, and is responsible for the collection, security and proper disposal of the drugs, the Tunkhannock Rotary Club helps the DA’s office educate the public about this important program to clean old, expired or no longer needed prescription drugs out of people’s medicine cabinets. Most abused prescription drugs come from family and friends. Any one of us could become a drug dealer and not even know it.
The Tunkhannock Rotary committee took responsibility for all public relations and advertisement for this program, including:
- distribution of posters to local businesses to advertise the event,
- public service announcements that aired over 250 times on 10 radio stations,
- newspaper articles and ads highlighting the dangers of these unneeded medications, especially for the young,
- radio interviews on the program and
- communications with civic organizations, Tyler Memorial Hospital administrators and church clergy who alerted their membership at meetings, from the pulpit and in their newsletters.
Senior Issues/Projects - Chair: Patti Ehrenzeller
Each year, the committee identifies issues, programs or specific projects for senior citizens in Wyoming County that are either not funded or underfunded and makes recommendations to the Board for support of these endeavors.
Global Projects - Chair: Norm Kelly
The global projects committee considers international projects or requests for funds to support international experiences for non-Rotarians. Some large global projects may be done in collaboration with other Rotary Clubs or outside organizations with funding from the Rotary Foundation.
Founder's Day - Chairs: George Gay & Mary Tempest
Every June, the Tunkhannock Rotary has a booth at Tunkhannock Founder's Day. Information on Rotary is available as well as, the first ads and ticket sales for the Oct Harvest & Wine Festival.
Alternative Fund-Raising Ideas Committee - Chair: Marta Kovacs-Ruiz
The purpose of this committee is to generate ideas for new fund-raising projects to supplement or replace current fund-raising programs.