Our collaboration with Brookline Housing Authority (BHA) on this year's district grant ended with a wonderful graduation ceremony honoring the dedicated students of the BHA literacy program. Students and teachers helped identify class needs. Over the course of the year we were able to provide student books, teachers guides, white boards, and 6 new chrome books to enhance the learning experience for students. In the photo is the thank you from the students along with Litty Medalia, Instructor, and Danielle Mendola, Program Co-ordinator for BHA. Graduation was a family affair and included amazing videos done by the students.For the last five years, Brookline Rotary has collaborated with other local, non-profits to serve the needs of different communities here in Brookline. These projects have included sponsoring rookie members of the New England BEEP Baseball team, a freezer for the Brookline Food Pantry, multiple projects with Women and Girls Thriving in Brookline, and equipment for the Maker Space at Brookline Teen Center. Each project involved members of Brookline Rotary collaborating with staff and beneficiaries of the partnering organizations. Five years of grants to Brookline totaling $15,000 and over 400 volunteer hours.
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Brookline Rotary and Charles River Rotary visited the New England Center and Home for Veterans and served dinner on May 31st. The center provides a full complement of services including housing for about 250 veterans each night and they serve three meals a day/ seven days a week. The local "drill sergeant" walked us through the details of the dining room and everyone was served without any major disasters. 
Boston University Sargent College Rotaract invited Brookline Rotary to join them for the final Helathy Cooking Class of the season. The Peanut Butter Bars were good but the Kale Salad was spectacular! Who knew kale could be so tasty. This series sponsored in part by a grant from Target and utilizing recipes from the Sargent College Test Kitchen has been going strong for three years and was an outgrowth of a District Grant that Brookline Rotary received to support programs at the then Women and Girls Thriving in Brookline. A strong partnership has resulted with the now Women Thriving group. Everyone looks forward to next fall when we will resume the cooking classes. Rotary also took advantage of the evening to acknowledge the outstanding year of our out going Rotaract President Ioana Moldavan and the 50th year of Rotaract. Kudos would be incomplete without recognizing our stellar advisor to Rotaract and BU Professor, Karen Jacobs.
Ramesh Daswani, CEo of Light of Life Trust and Assistant Governor of Rotary District 3141 (Mumbai, India), visited Brookline Rotary April 18, 2019. He shared ideas with the club. Here he is shown exchanging flags with incoming President George Chapman and board member Joyce Graff.
Even though the thunderstorms canceled our food stand, several members helped staff comfort stations for the Marathon runners. 
On March 30th, Brookline Rotary hosted its 26th Annual Community Pancake Breakfast. This event has become a Brookline tradition since it was first held in 1993. We are grateful to our community sponsors for their support of Rotary's 2019 Pancake Breakfast:
On Wednesday, 2/27/19 Brookline Rotary invited the Brookline Community to meet us at Hops N Scotch at 1306 Beacon St. for complimentary refreshments and to members of Brookline Rotary and learn what Rotary can do for and with them. Since 1938, leaders in the Brookline community have been serving the town through our grants and with our time and effort. From providing scholarships and training for our youth to purchasing needed equipment for the Mental Health Center and the Food Pantry to enabling our seniors to gather and enjoy Brookline life, Rotarians have been in the forefront of solving local and international problems, such as clean water in our Sister City, Quezalguaque. We welcome all: retirees, young professionals and new members of our community. 
'Tis the season and 'tis Rotary so that means Brookline Rotary is doing what we do best and helping out. On Tuesday, 12/4/18, Brookline Rotary joined Boston University Rotaract club at their Healthy cooking Class with Women and Girls Thriving in Brookline. BU Rotaract has been meeting with Women and Girls for two years now as they cook healthy meals together every two/three months. The group has bonded over menus that encourage healthy and simple recipes, stories of each other's lives and lots of laughter.
Due to inclement weather, Purple Pinky Day will be rescheduled to a later date. Stay tuned. Meanwhile we ran a video presentation in the window of the Brookline Bank at Coolidge Corner all weekend! Many thanks to the Brookline Bank.
On Sunday, Sept 24th, BU Rotaract staffed the Boston Rotary club table at Brookline Day. A wonderful event for families Brookline Rotary has been participating for years. This year for the second time, the Rotaractors, many of whom are Occupational Therapy students, demonstrated the proper way to pack a back pack to avoid injury. For many school children, heavy back packs have become a concern given the strain they put on growing bones. The students were a big success with attendees at Brookline Day. Well done Rotaract! 
Great meeting yesterday as members partnered with Steps to Success and Eastern Service Workers to pack school backpacks with needed school supplies. Thanks to the generosity of our members 30 students will start school with pencils, pens, notebooks, and much more. Our member and resident Occupational Therapist, Karen Jacobs, made sure all packs were packed in an manner to ensure student safety with the heaviest items along the back of the packs. Occupational Therapy students and BU Rotaract will be with Brookline Rotary at Brookline Day at Lars Anderson Park on 9/23 to share these packing tips with all Brookline student and parents. The club is scheduled to do four of these service projects during our meetings this coming year. Non-members are welcome to join us. Check the calendar for dates and projects.
