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Goochland Rotary Club celebrates 30 years as partners for local charities, parks and public safety
Summary
At a ceremony in Tucker Park, community groups, schools and public-safety agencies credited the Goochland Rotary Club with decades of volunteerism, fundraising and project support, citing programs from the Sunshine Food Bus to park improvements and emergency-response training.
The Goochland Rotary Club celebrated its 30th anniversary at Tucker Park, where representatives of local nonprofits, schools, parks and public-safety agencies credited the club with years of volunteer service, fundraising and project support across Goochland County.
The Rotary was founded in 1995 by Brooks Robertson and about 20 other county residents, and speakers at the celebration said the club’s membership has since roughly tripled and become a steady partner for local programs.
Rotary volunteers were described as hands-on partners for a wide range of county efforts. A representative of the Christmas Mother Association said the Rotary’s work there dates to about February 2008 and that Rotarians serve as a “first point of contact” during holiday distributions, greeting clients, checking identification and loading items into cars. “We could not do it without the help of the Rotarians,” the association representative said.
A representative of Goochland Cares told attendees the club has supported that nonprofit for many years with volunteer labor, food drives, financial support and by backing the organization’s critical home-repair and indoor-plumbing efforts. The Goochland Cares representative noted that several Rotarians have served on the nonprofit’s board and were key partners in fundraising campaigns and in building the organization’s current facility.
Officials from Goochland Parks and Recreation credited the Rotary with helping complete projects at Hidden Rock Park, including the Sassy’s dog park, a disc-golf course and an exercise trail, and with supporting amenities at Tucker Park such as the picnic area and horseshoe pits. “Tucker is also home to our summer concert series where the Goochland Rotary helps us perform and put on those concerts,” a parks and recreation representative said.
The school-division representative said the Rotary annually donates books to fourth-grade students and was a founding supporter of the Sunshine Food Bus, a program that delivers meals to students when school is not in session. The speaker also cited the club’s community-recognition award ceremony, where school staff were honored.
Speakers from public-safety agencies described the club’s direct support for deputies, dispatchers and firefighters. A representative of the sheriff’s office recalled that Rotary members host the CATCH program (originally CAST) and provide meals and other support that officers value. The fire-rescue representative described financial and logistical support from the Rotary, including a Brunswick stew fundraiser held at Fire Station 2 in Cardwell on Route 6 that raises money for emergency services.
An emergency-management representative said the Rotary was active during the pandemic as part of a community task force and that at least eight Rotarians joined the county’s SIRT (self-identified rapid-response team) and at least four participated in the county’s First on the Scene basic first-aid and CPR training.
Speakers repeatedly thanked the Rotary for its long-term volunteerism and financial support. A county official closed the event by commending the club’s three decades of service to Goochland County.
The celebration combined remarks from nonprofit leaders, parks and school officials, and public-safety personnel; no formal county actions, votes or policy decisions were taken at the event.
