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TODAY'S MEETING
Jun 15, 2021 12:00 PM
Paxton Burns and Maggie Ballard
Paxton's Blessing Boxes
Paxton's Blessing Boxes

Paxton’s Blessing Box (PBB) started from a simple idea that Maggie Ballard saw on social media back in August 2016. She shared the photo with her son, Paxton, then age six, and they both felt that their house would be the perfect place for a Blessing Box to fill with non-perishable food and hygiene products for those in need. Shortly afterwards they enlisted the skills of a handy friend who built the first Blessing Box. Maggie and Paxton placed it in their front yard and painted it bright crimson red, their favorite color. Next, they filled it with food and personal hygiene products and it’s been stocked by donations ever since, going through roughly $500-$600 a week in groceries! Boxes have been added each year since that initial one. Currently, there are 87 Blessing Boxes scattered throughout the Wichita area, Kansas towns and other states! 

What they love about their program is that it provides a little bit of anonymity.  No ID's. No questions. No judgment.  “Take a blessing when you need one and leave a blessing when you can!” is their motto.  There is a huge increase in children visiting a lot of their locations when school is not in session.  Popular items for the kids are as follows: crackers, chips, juice boxes, water, granola bars, pop tarts...No child should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from!

Maggie and Paxton’s goals continue to be adding new PBB locations across the United States along with increasing partnerships to help with organizing a food drive, sorting food, getting boxes of food ready for hosts to pick up for their location and making sure food isn't out of date. All that is needed it the same passion and love to help feed those in need. Through the support of the ICT community, they believe that everyone involved can make a positive change in a person’s life, one BLESSING at a time.

Our club recently sponsored the installation of a Blessing Box at Lawrence Elementary which the staff is in charge of overseeing.

TODAY’S MEETING: Please bring non-perishable foods and hygiene items that can be donated to Paxton’s Blessing Boxes.

 
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Join us for STAR CLASS before today's meeting at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will NOT be in the Par Room this month. Please check the sign at the RHCC entry or ask in the office, if don't see the group. The topic this month is "History of Rotary". 
LAST WEEK'S MEETING:
Isaac McNary spoke to our club about the Tanzania water project he is participating in. Regarding another project he is working on, Isaac sent a follow-up report that our club purchased $460 worth of soap last week, putting him at a total of $849!!! He is hoping to get the last $151 knocked out over the next few weeks before June 30th to make his goal of $1,000. He is donating ALL the money received through his soap sales (including his cost of supplies!) to Rotary's Polio Plus campaign. If you still would like to order some soap and help him reach his goal, you can order on-line at http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoapPolioNow
 
Kristine Sabino, the teacher at Hadley Middle School who requested funds to purchase four microscopes for her classroom, gave us an update on how that has benefited her students.
          
Saturday, June 19th
6:05 p.m. game time;
  gates open at 4:30 p.m.
For those who reserved tickets, they will be available for pick up at today's meeting OR at the Will Call booth the night of the game.
JUNE BIRTHDAYS 
Member Birthdays
Joey Timmer
June 1
 
Maurice Linnens
June 6
 
Ann Welborn
June 7
 
DeAnn Sullivan
June 10
 
Sharon West
June 18
 
Wade West
June 22
 
Colby Reynolds
June 25
 
MEETING INFORMATION 
MEMBER ATTENDANCE 
LAST MEETING: 56% 
Membership: 59
LAST YEAR: no meeting due to covid
Membership: 61
GUEST
Kristine Sabino, Hadley teacher 
VISITING ROTARIANS
Geri Appel - Downtown Rotary
Fred Heismeyer - East Rotary
Joyce Heismeyer - East Rotary
Isaac McNary (speaker) - El Dorado Rotary 
ROTARY AWARENESS DRAWING WINNER: Diana Fredelake
HAPPY BASKET:  $8.00
HOLIDAY RAFFLE:
Bob Broeckelman drew a King and won $15 in the raffle last week.  If an Ace is drawn this week, the pot will be worth $154. Proceeds from the raffle are used to purchase groceries for needy families at Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas.
 
The Wine Dinner Event Committee met after last week's meeting and plans are in motion for this year's fundraiser!
      
Save the date: October 9