Optimist and Rotary Clubs Join Forces for Annual Holiday Food Basket Project

On Saturday, December 15, members of the Westfield Optimist Club and Rotary
Club again demonstrated their commitment to community service by providing a
record number of holiday food baskets to 97 Westfield families and individuals in need.

For the past 22 years, this has been an annual community service project for
the Optimist Club of Westfield and funding for this important program comes
from the Optimist Club, the Rotary Club of Westfield, anonymous donors, and
individual Optimist and Rotarians who sponsor baskets. Members of both
organizations met at 8 a.m. at Kings to collect the pre-assembled food boxes and then gathered for a festive holiday breakfast before leaving to distribute the food. 

The time and involvement of 50 volunteers from both organizations speaks
volumes about caring for the neediest among us.  The credit for yesterday is
a shared one demonstrated through the generosity of both organizations to
provide funding for this endeavor; personal financial contributions from
members and friends; support from King's in assembling food boxes and
poinsettias; donation of candy from Brummer's Chocolates in Westfield and
cookies from Delicious Orchards; and children's books and gifts from many
individuals.

Without these combined efforts, this annual project could not be so successful in assisting members of our community. Most importantly, this project is an illustration of what Optimists and Rotarians do to reach out and help our community.