For many service organizations the holidays are a time to shed light on touching and meaningful ways that they are helping people in need, but to Circle City Rotary it is just another month where members go above and beyond to reach people in our community with the generosity of their time, finances and influence.

In addition to their other community service projects, every year the Circle City Rotary takes particular care with their Holiday Program; a project they have done every year since the clubs conception 20 years ago. The club selects approximately 10 children (usually siblings from 4 to 5 families) form local elementary schools, based on their need and with the help of feedback from school faculty. All of the children are from low-income families who are generally unable to provide Christmas gifts for their children. The names and ages are provided along with a wish list to generous Rotarians who then purchase gifts for them. Stockings are also donated each year for each of the kids by Rotary member Shirley Zink and are filled with small toys and goodies. As an added gift to the family Rotarians spare no expense to create huge gift baskets full of toiletry and grocery items, along with all the fixings for a holiday dinner. “I enjoy giving back to our community and supplying Christmas to families that otherwise wouldn’t have it,” says Rotary President, Jason Kimes. “It is something we all take for granted.”

The Holiday Program takes place during the last Rotary meeting of the year before Christmas and is always a fun and memorable event for the families as well as the club. Kids and parents, along with teachers and principals are invited to attend the party in their honor. Santa even arrives promptly to hand out the stockings and presents to the kids personally! The event is complete with a special performance by the Centennial High Madrigal Choir who always delivers an awesome holiday show.

With past and current recipients from Ben Franklin Elementary School, Principal, Jason Scott had these words of praise. “It is an honor for Ben Franklin Elementary to partner with Circle City Rotary in a collaborative effort of helping families of our school during the holidays. It is one example of many where a community service organization extends a helping hand to those in our city. The students of the families receiving holiday gifts come to school the following day with wide smiles, words of appreciation and feelings of pride. On behalf of the staff team, I thank the Circle City Rotary for their generosity toward our students and their families.”

The Rotary motto “Service Above Self” conveys the humanitarian spirit of the organization’s members, and that spirit is alive and well here in Corona, especially during the holiday season. ___________________________________________________________________ The Circle City Rotary Club meets Wednesday mornings at 7:30 in the new Backwoods BBQ and Steakhouse owned by fellow Rotarian and Mayor Pro-tem Steve Nolan. If you would like to contribute to the Holiday Program or are interested in joining Circle City Rotary, please contact club President, Jason Kimes at (951) 966-7461.