Winnetka-Northfield Rotary Feeds the Soul During Pandemic

Feeding the Soul(s)

For decades before the Coronavirus hit, the members of the Winnetka Northfield Rotary Club gathered for a weekly lunch filled with fellowship, service opportunities and engaging guest presentations robust with enlightening topics. Out of respect for the health of its members, the club moved to a virtual format in March, and it was business as usual -- except for lunch, which could no longer be provided in person as a large group.

Staying true to its motto, “Service Above Self”, the Club generously decided to continue to pay its private caterer, “Donna Goodman Events” of Wilmette, to prepare weekly meals not for themselves, but for residential nonprofits instead. Rotary asked its partner, The Volunteer Center of N.E. Metro Chicago(VC), for some recommendations from its 165 member nonprofit list that could use the meal support and had a similar number of recipients as Rotary's lunch crowd. After careful research by the VC, the club agreed to deliver meals on a rotating weekly basis to two organizations. Thus since April 23rd, Donna Goodman has created an average of 50 delicious meals each week for the New Life Shelter of Good News Partners in Rogers Park and Lydia Home in Chicago. Goodman is grateful to Rotary for “helping me stay afloat during this Covid. I know it’s so Rotarian to be philanthropic and do good, so I thank you for also leading me to help these residential facilities and those in need. It feels really good to do, so I give them lots of food and provide healthy options.” Donna Goodman always does that anyway. Meal delivery to the nonprofits will proceed until Rotary determines it is safe to gather in person again.

The Grateful Recipients

New Life Shelter Program Director Kelvin Johnson remarks with each meal delivery how the Rotary Family and The Volunteer Center continue to be a blessing to them.” The New Life Shelter is a program of Good News Partners in Rogers Park. It is a group housing facility for young mothers and their children. It also provides support to the mothers to rebuild their lives through job training programs, assistance in finding medical and legal resources and when they are ready – access to transitional housing options.

LYDIA HOME’s mission is to strengthen families to care for children and to care for children when families cannot. LYDIA provides hope, healing and home to children in foster care by providing a holistic approach to help children recover from the emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse they’ve endured. Thanks to Lydia, home means a safe and nurturing environment for them to grow. Karen Anderson, a Lydia staff member gratefully shares, “Besides the practicality of receiving a meal, the encouragement of knowing people care about our work and our struggles means so much!”

The Rewards Continue In the Delivery

The meals have been delivered every Thursday by Rotary member and the Volunteer Center of N.E. Metro Chicago's Director Barb Tubekis. Observes Tubekis, “As a proud Rotarian, I feel gratified to bring my role with the Volunteer Center to such a positive outcome. It’s a privilege to hand off this generous effort each week that involves and touches so many people and causes.”

The Winnetka-Northfield Rotary also took action during the early stages of the pandemic to provide weekly meals for frontline medical workers and donated funds to the New Trier Township Food Pantry for local residents faced with unprecedented food insecurity due to job losses during the pandemic.

Funding for the ongoing food deliveries come from club member fees that normally pay for lunch at the club's weekly meetings, and from donations from local citizens. Contributions to the club's COVID-19 Response fund can be made here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/winnetka-northfield-rotary-charitable-foundation/covid-response-fund

Local residents interested in learning more about the Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield may join the club's weekly lunch meetings on Thursday's from 12:15 – 1:30. Each meeting features an interesting and topical speaker and opportunity to participate in service and deepen friendships. Learn more at www.wnrotary.org. The Volunteer Center is also interested in welcoming new volunteers as board members or project chairs - https://VolunteerCenterHelps.org

Until meetings resume at the Winnetka Community House, email info@wnrotary.org to access the Zoom link. Membership is open to anyone of good character who is interested in camaraderie and taking action to create lasting change in the world.

Feeding the Soul feels so good!