By José Antonio Pérez
As the first week of classes wrapped up at local Technical Secondary #21, members of the Puerto Peñasco Rotary Club (CR Mar de Peñasco, AC) took part in delivering over 200 packets of school supplies along with nearly 60 backpacks to students. The packets of school supplies were part of a June project spearheaded by Rotaract students from Midvale, Utah.
Shandra Keesecker, 2018-2019 Puerto Peñasco Rotary Club President , detailed the school packets delivered now at the beginning of the academic year complement work done earlier by the Utah Rotaract group at the school located in Col. San Rafael, including the installation of toilet paper and soap dispensers. She furthered, with support from AIM Peñasco, AC (Comprehensive Care for Minors in Puerto Peñasco), they were also able to deliver roughly 60 backpacks to students at the school, covering needs identified after the first week of classes.
She emphasized the joint effort highlights the strength of coordinated work among organizations dedicated to community service.
Last June, Keesecker detailed, a group of 14 Rotaract members from diverse clubs in Utah took part in seven community projects, representing an overall in-kind donation value of at least $10,000 USD. These projects included building an access ramp at the local sports complex, maintenance and repair on a home for a disabled individual, talks on the challenges and opportunities for persons with disabilities including life after polio, presentation of instruments to music programs at Casa de la Cultura, and donation of medical supplies to the Dialysis Unit along with donation of newborn gift packages to new mothers at the local Health Center, and of course the recently delivered school packets.
Keesecker explained that Rotaract, which includes individuals 18 – 30 years old, is part of the service efforts of Rotary International, providing the opportunity for young men and women to develop leadership skills while supporting community projects and service. One of the local Club’s goals this year is to sponsor Puerto Peñasco’s first Rotaract club.
