Projects the Rotary Club of Bedford Funded in 2017-2018

 

Based in neighboring Chelmsford (MA), Operation Delta Dog rescues homeless shelter dogs and trains them to become service dogs for local veterans who are suffering from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), PTSD and other challenges.  It is the premier service dog organization focusing solely on veterans.

Bedford Rotary contributed financially and participated in ODD's 2017 Veteran's Day Walk and Wag Day fundraiser.  In 2018-2019 Operation Delta Dog support will be a principle target of Bedford Rotary's service and support efforts.

 

The Bedford Memory Cafe, a partnership creation of Bedford's Council on Aging and Cooperative Elder Services, a local adult day care health provider, was inaugurated in January 2018. Funded in part by Bedford Rotary, the Memory Cafe welcomes individuals with dementia, and their caregivers, to experience a sense of community on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

 

  In it's sixth year, this annual meals packaging event saw nearly 300 volunteers package 62,000     meals for needy children and families in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Conducted in partnership with   the international hunger relief organization, Rise Against Hunger, and funded in part by Bedford   Rotary, along with targeted corporate and individual fundraising by the club, this event brought the   six-year packaged meals total to more than 320,000.

 

 

 Co-hosted by the Bedford Police Department and the Rotary Club of Bedford, Bike Safety Day is     an annual spring opportunity for town children to participate in a valuable safety learning             experience and receive a free, custom-fitted bicycle helmet. The helmets are  purchased and   donated by Bedford Rotary and the fitting is performed by volunteer Rotarians. Bedford Police officers coach the kids through a specially configured obstacle course that tests their riding skills.

 

 

Bedford Rotarian Paula Gilarde, only a month after joining Rotary, exemplified the spirit of service to mankind by joining on a relief mission to hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico organized by Rotary District 7910. Bedford is one of 53 Massachusetts communities within the district. Spurred by her reporting about the experience upon her return, Bedford Rotary enthusiastically endorsed funding support for the relief efforts.

 Bedford TV, award-winning community access television, lends frequent support to Bedford     Rotary by sometimes having cameras and crew on-the-scene for a Rotary community event or   reporting on the Club's activities during its weekly live newscast.  The station's dedication and service to the Bedford community and its citizens has been recognized by Bedford Rotary through funding that has allowed Bedford TV to obtain the studio editing and field camera equipment needed to fulfill its community access mission. 

 

Over the years since it was established, the Bedford Rotary Club, through its Bedford Rotary Foundation has given funding support to dozens of service and humanitarian projects at home and around the world.  In addition to those highlighted above, the following are others that were funded just in the last few years.

 

1. Minuteman ARC Basketball Program

2. Neighbor Brigade (Bedford)

3. Bedford Rotary Meals for Kids