Above: Rotary members mobilized to quickly help newly arrived refugees in a neighboring town gear up for fall and winter in New England. (images edited from shared photos and club logo)
The Southborough Rotary Club asked me to share news about their most recent good work. Below is their announcement (with shared photos) from their successful effort to provide winter coats for families being sheltered at a hotel in Westborough:
Multiple Refugee Families Assisted by Southborough Rotary Club Coat Collection
For New Englanders, whether lifelong or recent residents, it’s second nature to expect the seasons—and daily temperatures—to shift unpredictably, regardless of what the calendar says. Now imagine you’re not just new to the region but to the country, having fled from a vastly different climate and challenging circumstances that violated basic human rights unimaginable to the majority of us. While your life may be improving in the long term, today, you, your children, and your aging parents are cold because you lack the proper clothing to face the weather outside your temporary hotel housing.
Thanks to the Southborough Rotary Club and dedicated local volunteers, about a dozen newly arrived refugee families staying in a Westborough hotel will now have warm coats this fall and winter. When this need was brought to their attention, Rotary members quickly mobilized to collect new and gently used coats tailored to the sizes and preferences of each family member. Volunteers spent hours collecting, purchasing, and sorting coats while ensuring every detail was addressed. Many members even added personal, handwritten notes to welcome the families and brighten their day. As new families arrive and others transition to permanent housing, the need for support continues. Yet again, the Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, has proven true in addressing these urgent needs.
Rotary International, established in 1938, is committed to promoting peace, well-being, and practical solutions to global and local issues. The Southborough Rotary Club, chartered in 1960, remains an active force in the community. Please contact co-presidents Christine Narcisse or Carl Guyer at RotarySouthborough@gmail.com, or visit www.SouthboroughRotary.com to learn more about serving our community with this and other ongoing projects.
