This fall, members of the Emmaus Rotary Club, one of the oldest service clubs in the Lehigh Valley, were out in force to make a positive difference in the community.

Over 30 Emmaus Rotarians and 20 Emmaus High School Interact students actively participated in a number of community projects which exemplify the Rotary Motto of “Service Above Self.”

Volunteers:

•Packed 5,000 shelf-stable pasta meals and delivered them to a local food bank

•Trimmed trees and shrubs and washed windows at The Hillside School – a local school serving over 60 students with learning disabilities

•Planted 12 sycamore trees at Camp Olympic Park in partnership with Lower Macungie Township

•Prepared and served lunch to 80 men at Allentown Rescue Mission

•Served as “buddies” alongside dozens of kids with special needs during three games at Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley

•Cleaned up rubbish on Chestnut and Harrison Streets in the borough of Emmaus

“I am so proud of those who took part in our MAD Day activities: our members, their spouses, kids and friends, youth from the Emmaus High School Interact Club and many who provided financial support,” Emmaus Rotary President Burt Duren said. “I am particularly grateful to Gary Guthrie and all of the project captains for their hard work in planning and organizing each project. It was a terrific day to unite in serving the hungry, the disadvantaged, those with special needs and the environment and to ‘Make A Difference’ in so many lives.”

If you are curious about Emmaus Rotary and want to learn more about how they work to create lasting change locally and globally, consider joining them at one of the weekly breakfast meetings. The group meets at Brookside Country Club 7:30 a.m. Thursday mornings.