We are partnering with the YMCA and other organizations to provide an after school program for the neighborhood children. The program will be housed at Holy Community Methodist Church on Looney and should be underway by September. You can volunteer as much or as little time as you can spare and the opportunities are endless -- reading, sports, health classes, mentoring and more!

The first project in this area will be to distribute and/or install smoke detectors in the neighborhood. Just a Saturday morning commitment and a chance to meet a whole variety of Uptown residents. The exact date is TBA, but let us know if you are interested.

We are working with five schools in Uptown: Caldwell Elementary, Carnes Elementary, Guthrie Elementary, Humes Middle and Northside High. You can volunteer for long term involvement like reading to classes or tutoring and mentoring students; you can volunteer for a one-time commitment like proctoring a TCAP exam. We will also be establishing an Interact Club (a Rotary club in a high school) at Northside and will need all sorts of input and volunteers. In addition, we have established a partnership with the Agricenter for Uptown students to be involved in activities there and Rotarians will need to be on hand for one-day events.

Planning for the future takes a solid understanding of financial matters. Knowing how to budget helps everyone plan for their goals and well as those unexpected events that occur. By working with residents of the Uptown community on the topics listed below, we can help them understand the tools and resources available to plan financially for their futures and build foundations that will support them in reaching their goals.

Budgeting

Understanding and using a checking account

Understanding your credit score

Paying yourself first – the importance of saving

Using a credit card

The first class on budgeting will be on Thursday, April 23rd, at 7:00 pm at Holy Community Methodist Church.

We are partnering with Clean Memphis to establish quarterly cleanup days. We plan to recruit through the schools and churches residents to help with the cleanup days so that Rotarians can get to know and work with them as partners. The end of the cleanup morning will be celebrated with a shared meal or cookout where further friendships can be built and dreams shared. We also want to encourage the participation of young people in the neighborhood by having some fun activities going on at the end of the clean up – possibly a contest for the most unusual thing found, the most trash collected, etc. This could be a multi-generational event – not just limited to kids, but to all who participated with prizes awarded. Volunteer opportunities include: clean up crews, cookout/grill, flower donation & planting, food/snack donations. The first clean up day will be Saturday, May 16th.

We are partnering with Clean Memphis to establish quarterly cleanup days. We plan to recruit through the schools and churches residents to help with the cleanup days so that Rotarians can get to know and work with them as partners. The end of the cleanup morning will be celebrated with a shared meal or cookout where further friendships can be built and dreams shared. We also want to encourage the participation of young people in the neighborhood by having some fun activities going on at the end of the clean up – possibly a contest for the most unusual thing found, the most trash collected, etc. This could be a multi-generational event – not just limited to kids, but to all who participated with prizes awarded. Volunteer opportunities include: clean up crews, cookout/grill, flower donation & planting, food/snack donations. The first clean up day will be Saturday, May 16th.

Baptist Hospital will partner with us on a health fair in April by providing staffing for nurses to take blood for PSA’s and blood glucose. Medical activities will be supported by grant funds. Other churches in the area that are members of Memphis Healthy Churches will also participate.

Volunteer opportunities for Rotarians:

Rotarians will help by meeting people, explaining procedures, possibly cooking hamburgers and making notes and observations for future events. Future events could include:

· Selling hot dogs and cokes for funding other events.

· Have the Humane Society teach kids animal safety.

· Contacting the Memphis Fire Department to teach fire safety

· Contact Memphis Humane Society to demonstrate pet safety tips.

· We need to talk with Kroger and Schnucks about food donations.

The first health fair will be Saturday, April 25th, from 10:00 am -2:00 pm at Holy Community Methodist Church.