Arkadelphia Rotary Club supports many local initiatives aimed at improving quality of life for individuals and families. For many years, Rotary has been a sponsor of the local Angel Tree project through Junior Auxiliary. By helping families to purchase Christmas presents for children, volunteers are able to assist parents in spending the family budget on utilities, food, and other needs. In the process, life gets a little brighter for local families.

Over the course of the year, Rotary supports additional projects as needs arise in the community. Volunteers are always welcome, so check our Arkadelphia Rotary Blog or speak to a Rotarian for more information on these opportunities. Rotary International directs service by awarding local grants according to the organization's six areas of focus: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies. You can learn about some of our key community and international projects below.

"Rotary Has Heart" February Food Collection Project in the Arkadelphia Community

During the month of February, clubs throughout District 6170 supported food-based projects in their own communities to show that "Rotary Has Heart" and is actively working to make a difference on a local as well as international level.

The Arkadelphia Rotary Club is partnering with the Ecumenical Food Pantry, an interdenominational food pantry that operates in the city. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to participate by hosting collection boxes in their own businesses. At the end of the month, representatives from the pantry will speak at a club meeting to build awareness for their efforts. All food will be sent to the pantry at this time.

If you would like to participate, please contact the club at arkadelphia.rotary@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Interstate Entrance Beautification Project

Rotarians at work can effect great change in a community, and our club is ready for the challenge! Thanks to volunteer help from local club members and grants, from both Rotary International and the local Clark County Strategic Plan Foundation, the Arkadelphia Rotary Club was able to assist the city in installing large, easy maintenance landscaping beds along the I-30 Exit #73 leading to Arkadelphia's business district and main thoroughfare, Pine Street. Beautification projects are important in improving community appearance to attract new business and industry that will bring additional jobs for residents.

Make a Change Collection

At each meeting, the club collects small monetary donations, usually in the form of change or a single dollar bill, from members present. These funds are part of the "Make a Change" collection that is donated to benefit a local organization or initiative.

Imagination Library

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Founded by Dolly Parton, Imagination Library aims to foster a love of reading among preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month. High quality, age-appropriate books are mailed directly to a child's home, regardless of income. The effort "drastically improves early childhood literacy for children enrolled in the program."

Our sister organization, the Arkadelphia-Sunrise Rotary Club serves as a champion of the program to achieve early literacy goals in the county. As of December 2017, 633 local children were covered by the affiliate. Each year, the club makes a monetary donation to the project, but members are also encouraged to participate in area sign-up and reading events.

Other Local Service Projects:

DeGray Lake Shoreline Clean-Up
Cooperative Projects with RYLA Students
Fairground Volunteers
"Spirit of Christmas" Holiday Food Drive with Brookshire's
Scholarship Support for the Arkadelphia Promise
CARE Backpack Program
Summer Cereal Drive
Race Support Volunteers
​Angel Tree Project

For more information, please contact our club service chair.

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

Clean Drinking Water

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The Rotary Foundation has announced in 2014 that District 6170 was awarded a global grant in the amount of $51,233 USD to increase water availability for community irrigation from the Matope Dam in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, on the continent of Africa.

This is a joint venture with the Rotary Club of Bulawayo South. District 6170 is proud of the efforts of everyone involved, especially our own PDG Ian Cosh. Our District water project has been on-going for several years, now, and this is an extension of that program.

End Polio Now!

With only 2 endemic countries left, we are closer than ever to ending this crippling disease forever. 2.5 billion children have been vaccinated to date, and 69,600 people have signed on with Rotary to make history. Find out how you can help!
SUPPORT ROTARY
Be sure to support Rotary's mission of Service Above Self and spread awareness of club and community and international projects by ordering and wearing the new club t-shirt, available through pre-order here!