For over 100 years, the Rotary Club of Damariscotta-Newcastle has
lived the Rotary International motto of “Service Above Self,” helping with
local community projects and raising funds to help meet community needs.
This service may take the form of weekly or annual hands-on projects
such as helping the Ecumenical Food Pantry or maintaining the pollinator
garden which the club created in conjunction with Coastal Rivers
Conservation Trust.
Or it may be an occasional or one-off event such as assisting with
parking and traffic control for the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta,
distributing children’s books and toothbrushes/toothpaste as the Trunk or
Treat event, decorating the bridge with lighted garlands as part of the
Villages of Light or helping at the Y for Back-to-School (Damariscotta,
Wiscasset and Boothbay). On May 17th Rotarians will be part of a Day of
Service, working locally with other groups as part of the Adopt A Highway
program.
Damariscotta-Newcastle Rotarians may be seen on Main Street,
Damariscotta, in July selling raffle tickets for a paddle board or kayak or
during December, working with the local Lions on Main Street or at Main
Street Grocery with a kettle and bells, raising money to help combat food
insecurity.
This month the Community Service Committee, focusing primarily on
combatting food insecurity, is providing monetary support to Farms At the Y
( teaching the value and joy of growing, preparing and eating healthy local
foods to children) , Meals on Wheels (meal delivery to homebound adults
60+ or disabled adults under 60 who are unable to shop, prepare or cook
meals for themselves), Veggies to Table Farm (growing top-quality organic
produce and flowers to donate to local people experiencing hunger andneeding joy), Inn Along the Way (at Chapman Farm, welcoming folks with a
sense of community and a place to gather, rest and grow, including weekly
free lunch with the bunch), Fill the Bus (monthly collection in front of Main
Street Grocery for local food pantries) and the Central Lincoln County Y
(providing meals and snacks for child care and also the Help Yourself Shelf
is filled with foods and other items free for the taking. Availability fluctuates
with the season, examples are fresh fruit, vegetables, canned goods,
pasta, rice, etc