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Our club raised $4,659 for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank through our Hops & Grapes event this summer.  Those proceeds, combined with energized community support, will provide meals for families this winter. 

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank was buzzing with activity November 16th as the Third Annual Student Food Drive came to a close.  The six week drive yielded over 45,447 pounds of nonperishable food, which was delivered to the Food Bank by students from the 10 schools involved.

The 2009 Drive kicked off on October 5th with a gathering of several sponsors, students, and other supporters of the Food Bank.  Since then, students have been busy gathering money and food for the Drive through several fundraisers and events.  Some of the more popular activities included a school administrator kissing a pig, a boy's volleyball game and a basketball game against the DJ's of Cumulus Media, a sponsor of the Drive. 

A record number of schools participated in the 2009 Student Food Drive.  These area schools included: Cedar FallsHigh School, HudsonHigh School, IndependenceHigh School, JanesvilleHigh School, NU High School, UnionHigh School, ValleyLutheranHigh School, WaterlooChristianSchool, WaterlooEastHigh School and WaterlooWestHigh School. 

"We are pleased with the increase in student participation as well as the incredible support from the many sponsors of this drive," commented Barbara Prather, Executive Director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.  "Food collected from the Student Food Drive will go a long way in feeding many individuals during this time a time of greatest need."   

The event is from 4:00 - 6:00 pm on Saturday, December 5 at the Masonic Event Center (corner of Mulberry and Park).  Volunteers can serve as shopping helpers for the children buying gifts for the families (all $1), wrapping gifts, serving food and orange drink, assisting children make a variety of holiday crafts.  No experience necessary, just a willingness to serve.  We ask that the volunteers arrive at 3:30 so we can be prepared for the families to arrive at 4:00.  This is a great way to kick off the season of giving.  Email fellow Rotarian Sindee Kleckner at Main Street Waterloo to volunteer.

Have you asked your date to reserve the 14^th?  He or she may be wondering, so get to it.

            Program Chair Amber Jedlicka has arranged a special treat, the Lis March Vocal Academy Singers, a very special group which includes among its members the daughters of Julie Hayes and Kelli McCarthy.

Broader Participation Could Help Reach Annual Goal

            Worldwide giving to the Rotary Foundation is down by 18 percent so far this year despite a rise of 2.5 percent in the US according to Ron Burton, one of the trustees of the foundation. Burton spoke to Rotarians in Warwickshire England November 14.

            He added, "-Sadly worldwide, only 26 percent of Rotarians contribute to their

Foundation. This must be one of our greatest challenges-to encourage each and every Rotarian to contribute to The Foundation."