Rotary Club of Palatka Sunrise

Our Projects

3-Year-Old Book Bag Project

The Rotary Club of Palatka Sunrise contributes funds towards the purchase of books, and club members assist the Early Learning Coalition of Putnam and St. Johns Counties in preparing bags stuffed with 10 to 12 age-appropriate books for 3-year-old children. Educational information for parents on the importance of reading is also included in each bag.

Haiti

The club has been involved with FISH Ministries in Haiti since 2004. The main objective of the project is to provide animal protein to malnourished children. At least 12 Sunrise members have traveled to the project site and several have visited on multiple occasions. The program currently feeds approximately 1,200 children three times per week. Since the devastating 2010 earthquake our club has partnered with the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions to expand the project. With this expansion, the addition of a vocational school is in the process and an emphasis on public health initiatives has been added. The goal of the "Better Tomorrow for Haiti" program is to assist Haitian residents in becoming self sufficient by providing them with training and micro finance loans.

Heart and Sole

This project provides shoes and socks to needy kindergarten through 3rd grade elementary school children throughout Palatka and the west areas of Putnam county. Guidance counselors and teachers help identify the children who will benefit from this project. To date, shoes have been distributed to students attending Browning Pearce, Interlachen, James A. Long, Ochwilla, and Mellon Elementary Schools.

Honor Air

This project was in partnership with First Coast Honor Air. On May 22, 2010, twenty-four Putnam County World War II veterans were honored in Washington, DC at the World War II Memorial for their commitment to America. On May 21, 2010—with the help of the Putnam community—these individuals were given a hero's send-off as they paraded to Jacksonville International Airport with a Law Enforcement Honor Guard all the way. This same level of celebration continued for the next 24 hours during their trip to and from Washington. Palatka Sunrise Rotary honors the men and women who serve in the military.

Literacy Project

Second grade students at several selected school sites are visited by Sunrise Rotarians for this annual reading project. Members arrive at the schools with their books in hand, and sometimes with props to make the books really exciting for the students. At the end of the reading session, several copies of the book are left with the classroom teachers to be added to their class libraries.

Purple Pinkie Project

This project was held in Putnam County School District schools. It mimickied the process an infant or small child would go through after receiving a polio immunization by dyeing the little fingers of all students who donated a dollar with a harmless gentian violet dye. On National Immunization Day, the dye on a child's pinkie finger indicates that he/she has received inoculation and prevents re-inoculation. The money raised during this project benefitted the End Polio Now Campaign.

Rotary Youth Exchange

In 2012, the Rotary Club of Palatka Sunrise was proud to support Madison Smith from our area as part of the student exchange program in which she travelled to Belgium. The program allowed students to attend school and immerse themselves in the culture of their host family and country.

Scholarships

The Rotary Club of Palatka Sunrise has awarded scholarships annually to Putnam County students since the 2000-2001 school year, for a total of over $100,000 in awards! See our Annual Scholarships page for more information on this program.

Senior Day at the Putnam County Fair

The Sunrise Rotary sponsors the "Senior Day Luncheon" at the Annual Putnam County Fair. Senior citizens are treated to a picnic lunch cooked and served by Sunrise members. In past years, over 700 senior citizens from throughout the community have enjoyed the lunch.

Senior Santa

The Rotary Club of Palatka Sunrise makes Christmas a little merrier by presenting gifts to selected senior citizens living in nursing homes throughout Putnam County and who have little or no family visits. The gifts are hand-delivered by Rotary members. Hopefully, in the years to come even more senior citizens will be reached by this outstanding community project.

Wipe 'N Dipe

This project supported A Woman's Resource Center by providing them with supplies to be used for women and the families of women facing unplanned pregnancies. The Rotary Club of Palatka Sunrise purchased diapers, wipes, paper towels, and printing supplies for the center.

Other Programs Supported by the Rotary Club of Palatka Sunrise

  • Beasley Middle School Jr. National Honor Society
  • Communities In Schools of Northeast Florida
  • Interlachen High School Student Literacy Circle
  • Jenkins Middle School Jr. Beta Club
  • Lee Conlee Domestic Violence Shelter
  • Palatka Christian Service Center
  • Palatka High School Carpentry Department - Personal Energy Transportation (PETs)
  • Palatka Police Department's Victims Advocates Program
  • Relay for Life
  • Rodeheaver Boy's Ranch
  • St. Vincent's DePaul
  • WHIF HOPE FM 91.3 Edify Project
Rotary Club of Palatka Florida