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Pictured: Stan Mack (Rotarian and Board Member for Kingston Cares)In 2008, individuals from Kingston Rotary, Kiwanis, Sharenet, Kingston Food Bank and Wolfle Elementary met at Wolfle Elementary School to address the fact that many of the children on the National Food Program had no access to a food program during the summer months. |
This initiative was initiated during a joint Rotary-Kiwanis meeting. Sharenet provided food for these kids during the Summer School program but there was a 7-8 week gap between the end of summer school and when the school year began when there was no food program. The need to fill this gap, launched a new program, in which the Kingston Food Bank was able to provide weekend packets of food each week to the same kids that were in the National Food Program during the school year. Rotary and Kiwanis provided the funds for this program. Initially, they provided for about 30 kids the 1st year and this steadily grew to about 60 kids after just a few years. During Clint Boxman’s presidency of Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club in 2015, he asked Kingston Cares if they would provide the oversight of Food4Kids as a registered Washington State Non-profit and 501(C)3 organization. Kingston Cares Board agreed and has operated Food4Kids since then. Kingston Cares formed in 2013, was recognized by the State of Washington in 2014, and became a 501(C)3 organization in 2015. Three of our board members are Rotarians. Frequently Asked Questions: Who is served? We work with local schools to identify children who are eligible for the National Food Program which serves the Free and Reduced Cost meals at school. Those families receive an invitation to sign up for Food4Kids by filling out a simple one page application. How does it work? We identify a location where we can temporarily store the non-perishable food and the packing materials. We purchase food from Northwest Harvest, Winco, and local grocery stores. Northwest Harvest delivers food to the location, while volunteers pick up and deliver the rest of the supplies. We schedule the packing dates and invite volunteers to sign up for one or more shifts of setup, packing, and distribution. We use Sign Up Genius software to manage the volunteers. Our volunteers come from a variety of partner organizations or simply interested citizens. How many have we served? 2011-2017 We served 525 different children a total of 38,870 meals. Our 2018 goal is to serve 125 children a total of 15,300 meals. How much does it cost? 2015: $3,000 2016: $8,000 2017: $16,000 2018: $28,000 Where does the money come from? Donations, grants, and fundraisers (Sphagetti Feed and Trivia Night). What else does Kingston Cares do? Our mission and vision. Community Conversation, Community Meal, Project Connect, Severe Weather Shelter, Affordable Housing Working Group, Coffee Oasis What food is provided? We try to balance nutritious food with what kids will eat. Packets and boxes include bread, crackers, cereals, mayo, peanut butter, milk, juices, soups, oatmeal, fruit and grain bars, and fresh produce (fruit and vegetables). We include a small amount of treats like hot chocolate, popcorn, and candy. How do I Volunteer? Please visit our website kingstoncares.org or visit kingstoncares facebook page. If you are interested in our projects or would like us to consider a new project, fill out a simple membership application on the website. You will receive information about upcoming events and invitation to join in projects or regular meetings. Kingston Cares Partners Rotary, Kiwanis, Kitsap Great Give, S’klallam and Suquamish Tribes, United Way/FEMA (federal grant), BECU, Columbia Bank, First Security Bank, the local community at large. |
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Kingston Tree lightingInteract clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Find out how serious leadership can be seriously fun. |
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What are the benefits? Connect with leaders in your community and around the world to: - Take action to make a difference in your school and community
- Discover new cultures and promote international understanding
- Become a leader in your school and community
- Have fun and make new friends from around the world
What’s involved? Interact clubs organize at least two projects every year, one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. Rotary club sponsors mentor and guide Interactors as they carry out projects and develop leadership skills. Celebrate the global impact of Interact by getting involved in: - World Interact Week
- Interact Video Awards
- Rotary Youth Day at the United Nations
- Global Youth Service Day
How do I join? Check with your school or contact a local Rotary club to find out if there’s an Interact club in your area. Contact the Interact club to find out how you can join its next meeting, service project, or community event. Follow Interact on Facebook to see how Interact clubs are having fun through service. November Food Drive Halloween - Making Cards for Wolfle Elementary Students Removing Invasive Ivy |
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Dear Rotarians, With the leadership of our newly appointed District Scholarship Chair, Harry Panjer (Comox Rotary Club), we are excited to ask for your assistance in finding suitable candidates who would potentially qualify as Ambassadorial and Peace Scholars. Rotary District 5020 has funds to provide a post-graduate scholarship to an individual who is planning to purse graduate studies in 2019-20 in an area related to the goals of Rotary. The scholarship is for US$ 15,000 and can only be used in a country other than Canada and the USA. |
Each applicant for the scholarship must be sponsored by a club in District 5020. Please ask your club members ( announcement, newsletter, emails, etc) to identify possible applicants and bring their attention to the scholarship. Detailed information about the scholarship as well as the application form are available at This year, the deadline for complete applications is Jan. 15, 2019. With such a short time frame it is imperative that this information get to potential applicants very soon. The selection of the winning applicant will be done by the D5020 Scholarship Committee in February of 2019. Should you have further questions, please don't hesitate to contact Harry Panjer at 250.650.7675 or harry.panjer@gmail.com Rotary District 5020 has a remarkable history of commitment to this program which has the ability to transform individual lives and entire communities. We hope to see this tradition continue. Thank you for your help in supporting this program. Craig Gillis District Governor----Rotary District 5020 |
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Fundraising for Coffee Oasis.Diane Tandy (l) and Tony Fyrqvist (r)At our Wednesday Club meeting, we were rewarded by a plentitude of speakers. Our primary speakers were Diane Tandy and Tony Fyrqvist, who are in the process of forming a fundraising event to benefit the completion of the Kingston Coffee Oasis. They reminded us of Coffee Oasis's primary mission to serve homeless and at-risk youth. Their mission statement describes it well – “Changing the World for Homeless Youth in One Community After Another.” Coffee Oasis facilities now exist in Bremerton, Port Orchard and Poulsbo.
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Soon a fourth center will open right here in Kingston in the old Community Center where our Club was “born”. The cost of refurbishment of the property has escalated, including the fire-department-required installation of a sprinkler system. There is a need to raise another $170,000. Rather than organizing a complex fund raising banquet and auction, Diane hopes for something simple to include a “Raise the Paddle” request such as those that have been surprisingly effective for other organizations. The speakers asked if our Club could help organize this event that is tentatively scheduled for early March of 2019. Our club President, Breane, stated that she will discuss the proposition with the club's Board at its December meeting. There will be a fringe benefit for our members when the new center opens. There will be a new place to get a great cup coffee and snacks where we can meet some of the youth who are learning the ‘barista’ and cooking trades! Up to Your Neck in Styrofoam?Poulsbo Rotary's Lauri CloutierA highly energetic and enthusiastic member of the Poulsbo Rotary Club, Lauri Cloutier, spoke about the planned December 29 “STYRO-Roundup” to help keep those pesky styrofoam blocks and peanuts out of our landfills. This form of plastic cannot be recycled locally. Surprisingly, Styrofoam can be processed into a very useful hard plastic, but only at specific locations. The problem is that Styrofoam is uncompressible and thus an enormous mound of the stuff clutters our landfills. Event information: Save your holiday styrofoam packaging and bring it to our first Styrofoam Recycling Collection Event at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds Van Zee Building. Styrofoam will be accepted FREE of charge from county residents for recycling. Saturday, December 29th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Kitsap residents only, no commercial loads accepted.
- Items accepted include packing peanuts, styrofoam block
(remove tape or labels), styrofoam food packaging (clean and
unstained), styrofoam trays (seperate color from white).
- Styrofoam must be clean and dry.
- Sort material by type and color.
- Limit one car load per household
- No trailers or box trucks.
Items NOT Accepted include soft foam, hot tub covers, expanded polyethylene (EPE), sealed foam and foil lined polystyrene/insulation.
Click here for more details (pdf): STYRO-Roundup
Wine Trail on Bainbridge.Brooke HuffmanFinally, Brooke Huffman, the Executive Director of the Winery Alliance of Bainbridge Island, spoke about the possibility of adding a Wine Trail under DonorTrail. There appears to be support among our members to round out our tipple trails and thus become the only organization with two “Trails”. Brooke is available to provide additional information at brooke@fletcherbaywinery.com. |
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 On November 21st, at our regularly scheduled meeting, we welcomed Deanne Jackson, the Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator for the Kitsap County Dept. of Human Services. The program known as the Kitsap Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, is more than a job for Deanne, it is her passion. The Coalition is a partnership of state agencies, counties, schools and local prevention coalitions supporting communities in preventing alcohol and other drug abuse and its negative consequences. One of her favorite quotes by Mark Hyman sums it up: “The power of a community to create better health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital.” Deanne discussed the need and importance of educating both youth and adults on underage substance abuse prevention. Some examples included the use of Vapors (an alternative to smoking cigarettes) at schools. Until recently, Vapors were not classified as an illegal substance on school premises. However, thanks to the continued efforts of the coalition and other agencies, by providing resources that included health studies on its dangers, Vapors were finally banned from school premises. Another example and hot topic affecting our youth is the illegal use of prescription drugs. How many of us have had prescribed pain killers from an old injury or an operation and we forgot to discard them? The Coalition teaches that properly disposing of prescription drugs eliminates access by youth and at the same time can protect the environment. If you would like to learn more or to get involved, the coalition meets on the second Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. For details on the location of the meetings and any other activities of the coalition, contact Deanne Jackson at 360-337-4878, or by e-mail at dmontgom@co.kitsap.wa.us. |
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| Posted by Ron Carter |
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Silverdale Rotarians Jennifer Strong (l) and Erin Shannon (r) presented their club’s holiday fundraising project to Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians at their October 31 meeting in Kingston. Partnering with Lynch Creek Farm in Shelton, Wa, the Silverdale Club is making it possible for anyone, anywhere to purchase a fresh wreath, centerpiece, or garland for the holidays. 20% of all sales go to organizations throughout Kitsap County that support homeless and neglected kids (organizations such as Coffee Oasis and Stand Up for Kids). Most wreath prices range from $45 to $65. Free shipping is included to anywhere in the contiguous U.S. To shop and make purchases, go to: www.RotaryWreaths.com. |
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from De' MacKinnon Board meeting minutes are sent to all members in a bulk mailing. Should you wish to review a set of minutes you may not have saved, follow these steps to find them online. - Go to our website: Kingston-nkrotary.org
- Login.
- Next select “Member Area” from the top bar.
- Scroll down under “My Clubrunner” and select “View Club Documents”.
- Scroll down to the Board Minutes you wish to read.
- When done, be sure to log out.
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You may recall the item submitted last year by Treasurer Gale Kirsopp, about Amazon Smile - where you can do your Amazon shopping AND make a contribution to our Rotary Foundation in the process! In case you haven't signed up yet - PLEASE do. Here is the link to set up your "Amazon Smile" account. After that it's just a matter of going to "smile.amazon.com" to do your Amazon shopping and your contribution will be automatic. There is NO extra cost to do this. Amazon is sharing their profit with us! From Gale: Just a reminder for all Amazon shoppers – please use Amazon Smile. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-2960627 For each purchase you make through Amazon.Smile – Amazon will donate .5% of eligible sales to Kingston NK Rotary. It’s a fund raiser that does not require any of your time ! |
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