How you can help!!

| April 4, 2020 | Club News, Member News

Many of our neighbors are struggling as the COVID-19 pandemic takes hold, and we know that Rotarians are wondering how they can help.  This page will list organizations, some for-profit, some non-profit, some public, that have some connection to Rotary and are in need.  This list makes no claim to be all-inclusive, and it is limited to organizations whose appeals have some relationship to Rotary goals (e.g. “Helping Kids Succeed”) or to the Club itself.  The page will be updated regularly. Organizations wishing to be noted here should contact the Club to seek approval.

The following organizations have appealed for support.

  • Join Rotary, District 6380, in our goal of supplying 100,000 masks to first responders in the District 6380 100K Mask Challenge. You are doing what needs to be done by sheltering in place and observing social distancing. You can do more with a donation to Rotary District 6380’s COVID-19 response. Out initial goal is 100,000 masks, with the first 45,000 designated for first responders working in hospitals in southeastern Michigan and southwestern Ontario, Canada.Past President Ashish Sarkar is an active member of the District Committee.  The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor has already contributed $10,100 to the effort. Please see website at rotary100k.org
  • Michigan Medicine seeks desperately needed supplies. Rotary Club of Ann Arbor member Mike Rein, Director of Community Relations for the University of Michigan asks membership to lend a hand during the COVID-19 crisis. “I would like to ask the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor members for their assistance in helping Michigan Medicine in unique time of need for supplies and equipment. Here’s the link.
    • On March 30th, Mike Rein provided this update “Due to outstanding organizations such as Rotary, Michigan Medicine’s Donation Center has been a great success. They have been the grateful recipient of a steady stream of donated PPE’s. medical supplies and cleaning supplies”
  • Michigan Medicine is now partnering with Food Gatherers to also accept food donations at the Plymouth Road/NCRC site. With our Rotary Fights Child Hunger food drive over, this Michigan Medicine food drive is a great opportunity to continue Rotary’s positive impact on hunger in our community. Donations can be brought to Dock 90 of 2800 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor. Read the press release here for more information.
  • Pat Stejskal, wife of our immediate past president Greg Stejskal has organized a group of amateur seamstresses to make cloth masks. (They have dubbed the effort MASKerAID.) The CDC is now recommending that people wear some type of mask when going out to do shopping, etc.Pat’s group made & distributed 115 masks to Delonis Center last week. They are going to deliverer 100 masks to Peace Neighborhood on April 10. Pat would like to recruit additional “seamstresses” – need to have access to & know how to operate a sewing machine. If you’re interested please contact Pat at 734-662-6157 or send an email to <stejskalmi@sbcglobal.net>
    • On April 10th, Greg Stejskal provided this update: Pat’s MASKerAID “seamstresses” turned out 206 masks this week. Three of the seamstresses are Rotarians or Rotary spouses. 100 of this batch are going to Peace Neighborhood, they were recipient of one of our club’s community service grant last year.
    • On April 24th, we received this update: the MASKerAIDers provided 50 homemade masks to the Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti. CHC has received a Community Grant from our club in the past.
  • Ann Arbor Public Schools are working to ensure that every AAPS family who needs food and basic needs items can get the support they need. They are looking for community members to order items online and have them shipped to a specified location, make financial donations and more. These items will be delivered directly to families that most need them, including families receiving food deliveries, families in low income housing, families experiencing homeless and families supported by our partner agencies. Click here to learn more. 
  • Help A Local Business Help Our Local Heroes. Are you interested in helping the local restaurants you love continue to thrive despite coronavirus restrictions? A2 Neighbors was created to help both Covid-19 healthcare workers and local restaurants. They’ve made it simple for you to help both groups by purchasing meals from your favorite local spots to show some gratitude to local heroes at Michigan Medicine and the VA Ann Arbor. Click here to donate food.