Nonprofits supported by Rotary

SAINT AUGUSTINE  – Members of the Rotary Club of St. Augustine recently donated much needed funds to a variety of local nonprofit organizations including the Alpha Omega Miracle Home and Wildflower Healthcare Clinic, along with Rotary International Foundation for worldwide projects. The total direct giving amount of more than $60,000 from Rotary members and other contributors was the annual club initiative to fund worthy nonprofits for programs and services.

The local nonprofit beneficiaries are headquartered in St. Augustine, and serve residents throughout St. Johns County. Alpha Omega Miracle Home provides housing, counseling and education for the homeless single mothers, their children, and senior women at 2860 S. Collins Avenue. Wildflower Healthcare Clinic provides free, dental, and medical care to low-income, uninsured adults at 268 Herbert Street. Rotary International Foundation enables Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through improvement and funding of health and education nonprofits, and alleviation of poverty.

Additional initiatives this year included Rotary Club of St. Augustine commemorating the Club’s centennial anniversary with a specific program to help unemployed and furloughed workers in St. Johns County. Relief in the form of more than $20,000 in supermarket gift cards have been distributed to individuals and families in need for groceries and essentials during the pandemic.

Also, the local club raised funds for Hurricane Dorian damage in the Bahamas with $18,500 for relief efforts. According to Peggy Gachet, Rotary Club of St. Augustine’s President, the money was used specifically to fund a medical clinic opened by Flagler Health+ in Hope Town on Elbow Key.

Gachet added, the organization will continue to raise money for local, domestic, and international nonprofits to support worthy causes. “For more than 100 years, Rotary Club of St. Augustine members have used their passion, energy, and intelligence with a dedication to helping adults, children, and families in need to better our world and our communities,” said Gachet. “My one-year term as president of the local club ends in late June. I have been immensely proud to see the success of many fundraisers, celebrations, and donations during this time. I encourage members to continue their activities, volunteerism and good work in our area and around the world,” she said.

The Rotary Club of St. Augustine meets weekly with recent online video meetings during COVID 19. Meetings are slated to resume in person when social distancing restrictions are lifted. The club was founded through the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, Fla. Later, the St. Augustine Club sponsored the Rotary Club of Hastings, the Sunrise Rotary Club, St. Augustine Beach Rotary Club, Daytona Beach Rotary Club, and Rotary Club of Flagler County. As Rotarians, members are dedicated to the organization’s international motto, “Service Above Self”.

For more information, visit the website at https://staugustinerotary.org or email info@staugustinerotary.org. Visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StAugustineRotary and Twitter at https://twitter.com/StAugRotaryClub.