Rotary kicks off Community Fuel Challenge: Goal to raise $16,000 for Fuel Assistance Fund
Rotary President Jennifer Page Osman, at right, and President Elect Dwight Swisher present Rev. Sarah Foulger of the Boothbay Region Community Resources Group with a check for $3,500 to kick off the 2014 Rotary Community Fuel Challenge Matching Campaign. Courtesy of the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club
Rotary President Jennifer Page Osman, at right, and President Elect Dwight Swisher present Rev. Sarah Foulger of the Boothbay Region Community Resources Group with a check for $3,500 to kick off the 2014 Rotary Community Fuel Challenge Matching Campaign. Courtesy of the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club
The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club announced this week a $16,000 matching campaign to assist area residents needing financial help with rising fuel costs.
The 55-member club will match community donations, dollar for dollar, up to $8,000 through March 1 to reach the $16,000 goal. Funds will be turned over immediately to the Boothbay Region Community Resources group which will disburse the funds based on need.
The Club’s foundation board voted last week to make a good-faith advance of $3,500 against its $8,000 commitment as Foundation Treasurer Mike Thompson said, “The need is now and the aim to get additional assistance in place ASAP.”
Club President Jennifer Page Osman and President Elect Dwight Swisher met with Boothbay Region Community Resources liaison Rev. Sarah Foulger this week to deliver the $3,500 advance and discuss the ever growing need within the community.
“Despite continued donations to the fund, we are still receiving new applicants each and every day who have never used the fund before,” said Foulger.
“If the record breaking low temperatures continue, the funds will quickly diminish as residents are forced to ask for additional help. The nicest part about the Rotary challenge is that no donation is too small, especially with their generous match,” said Foulger.
Donations can be made online here or checks can be mailed to the Boothbay Harbor Rotary Foundation: Fuel Challenge at P.O. Box 518, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538. The Rotary Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, will issue receipts for tax deduction use.
According to Osman, this will be the first time the club has utilized an online donation vehicle. “We hope that this will broaden our outreach through social media and allow our friends, neighbors and summer residents a more convenient and expedient way of donating to a very worthy cause — certainly one of the most pressing needs in the community this winter.”
The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club, established in 1939, raises nearly $50,000 a year through 12 major fund raising events including its popular Annual Auction on the Boothbay Common each August. In total, the group made 53 community grants last year.
For more information about Rotary, please visit www.boothbayharborrotary.org or www.facebook.com/bbhrotaryclub.
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