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Date: 5/9/2023
LUDLOW — On Saturday, May 20, over 500 Rotary Clubs and 14,000 Rotarians across five states and three countries will volunteer in their communities for a Rotary Day of Service, collecting clothes for homeless, refurbishing parks, and more.
The Ludlow Rotary Club will host a food and clothing drive the new Ludlow Veterans Center at 487 Holyoke St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to benefit Ludlow Veteran Services Department and the Springfield Rescue Mission.
Ludlow Rotary Club President April Beston said, “We will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Veteran Services food pantry and we will also be collecting gently used clothing for the Springfield Rescue Mission.”
The Springfield Rescue Mission provides services to the homeless, addicted and poor.
The Veterans Services Department recently launched a food pantry for those in need.
“Food insecurity has been one of the biggest issues facing our veterans population in recent years,” Ludlow Director of Veterans Services Eric Segundo said.
Beston added, “We talked about that it is spring house cleaning and people are cleaning out their closets or cabinets so we are accepting anything they are willing to pass on, we will be happy to collect.”
The hope is that the community comes out to support the two organizations.
“We are all a part of one large community so obviously we feel we need to be helping those in need in our community. Especially our veterans who have done so much to help us. It is one small way in which we can assit those in need,” Beston said.
Although there is no exact goal for the event, Beston would like to be able to provide substantial donations to both organizations.
“We are grateful for any donation that comes in but of course the more the merrier. As much support as we get from the community will all help and certainly none of it will go to waste.
The first 100 people who come to the event will also receive a pollinator seed packets, according to Beston.
She added, “In helping one of our newest areas of focus Rotary International which is environmental. That will be supporting the crisis with bees and other pollinators that is going on so we hope people will take those and plant them in their gardens to help out.”
Beston said the Rotary Club is a charitable organization that fundraises and gives back to the community in whatever way is needed.
“We do things like supporting the veterans, scholarships, support the Fire Department programs in the schools and food and clothing drives. Anywhere we can reach out and help, that is where we are,” Beston said.