Posted on Nov 29, 2017
DG Janet DiBenedetto visited Yonkers-East Yonkers Rotary Club on Wednesday 29 November, at the Clubs’ evening meeting.  She highlighted the District’s priorities, emphasizing the importance of working together for the common good.  The District will be addressing the situation in Puerto Rico right away.  
 
District Rotary Foundation Endowment Chair Larry Cohen (NY Rotary) and  Inwood Rotary President Jim Kushner contacted LuminAid which makes solar-powered lighting lanterns and Sawyer which manufactures water filters and obtained supplies of these items at cost - $15 for the solar lights and $10 for the water filters. Working with the local Rotary Clubs in Puerto Rico, Jim has already distributed 800 Sawyer water filters, 200 LuminAid solar-powered lighting lanterns and medical supplies to relief organizations, schools, municipal offices, nursing homes, a home for abused children, physicians, pediatricians and others in most need.
 
The Rotary Club of New York Foundation provided $25,000 to begin the project and the DG is asking all Clubs to join in and contribute to the NY Rotary Foundation for this project.  She will be meeting with the AGs next week and the project details will be highlighted in the upcoming District Newsletter.  The Pleasantville Rotary Club will be involving the Interact Club in this endeavor
 
The Afya Foundation in Yonkers recovers surplus medical supplies and equipment from hospitals and clinics in the US.  Danielle Butin, Afya Executive Director would like to partner with Rotary in shipping and distributing these supplies to Puerto Rico to help families.
 
Among other matters, DG Janet elaborated on the program of the upcoming District Conference in April.