Submitted

Members of the Trenton Rotary Club participated in a community service project, assisting Bright Futures Trenton during the club’s “Fifth Thursday” meeting on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Bright Futures building. Kristi Harris presided at the meeting and Dan Wilford gave the prayer.

Lynn Griffin and Terri Critten, co-directors of the Bright Futures Trenton organization, presented information about its Food Pals program, which provides food during the school year to students and their families on weekends and days when school is not in session. Food Pals replaces the Back Pack Buddies program and has allowed for more students in grades Pre-K through 12 and families to be served. The program is open to all schools in Grundy County, including Trenton R-9, Grundy R-5, Laredo R-7, Pleasant View R-6 and Spickard R-2. To be considered for the program, families must fill out a free and reduced lunch application. The schools then identify students and families in need, with food boxes being distributed monthly. Up to 165 children and their families can be served in the program, which currently has around 151. Bright Futures accepts donations of food staples as well as money to purchase items to be used in the food boxes. Drop-off sites are located at all of the banks in Trenton as well as several churches. Kayla Graham serves as the Bright Futures distribution coordinator.

Members of the Rotary Club then helped sort, fold and pack hoodies and sweatshirts to be given out during the November Food Pals distribution. Some of the items will also be available to students throughout the year when needed. The hoodies and sweatshirts are being stored at the Bright Futures building along with the food items used for the food boxes.

During the business meeting, it was announced District 6040 will be sending a group of Rotarians to Guatemala for five days in January/February to distribute shoes collected through the district’s Shoes for Orphan Souls project.