The Rotary Foundation is changing the world by providing grants for projects and activities around the globe and in your own backyard, and here is some more Good News.  The Vergennes Rotary Club is in the thick of this activity!
 
WASH Global Grant Projects: Since 2013, The Rotary Foundation has invested in more than $130 million in over 2000 projects worldwide. Through this investment, our volunteers of action have improved access to safely managed and basic WASH services to communities, schools and healthcare facilities, while protecting and conserving water resources.
 
Lee todos Los detailes!!!/Read all about it!!!
Our own Vergennes Rotary Club has been awarded a USD 74,000 grant from the Rotary Foundation for a water project in San Jose Monteverde, Mexico, and it all started by asking people what they needed. 
In the Fall of 2020, Vergennes Rotary Members Scott Gaines and Fr. Yvon Royer started an application for a Rotary International Global Grant with support from District 7850.
Members of the St. Peter’s and St. Ambrose Catholic Church Migrant Outreach team, of which Fr. Royer is Pastor, connected with some leaders of the Addison Allies, a group that supports our local migrant workers.  This contact led to the committee getting to know members of the San Jose Monteverde Community who are presently working on farms in the Addison County.
“We asked the migrant workers what theirs and their home Communities greatest needs were.  These migrant workers shared that water was their biggest need at home.
As it turns out, those living in San Jose Monteverde head out at 3:30 AM each morning to attempt to collect water for their daily needs.  Presently there is an in sufficient amount of water to meet everyone’s needs and none of the water is clean which is causing adverse health affect.
Recognizing the importance of this situation, Fr. Royer, a Vergennes Rotarian, then brought this water project idea to the Vergennes Rotary members and it was warmly embraced and accepted, and the process began.
 
When applying for the grant, Rotary International requires there to be a local Rotary Club in the county in which the grant-funded project is serving, and the local Rotary Club in San Jose Monteverde proved to be the perfect partner to move the project forward.  In turn, the two Rotary Clubs partnered with Healing Water’s International an organization whose mission is to end the global water crisis by helping Communities have access to sufficient and clean water.
 
Both Royer and Gaines have faced challenges which include a language barrier, the pandemic, and time differences. Upon completion of the project, both Royer and Gaines hope that they can visit the community of San Jose Monteverde.
 
The Vergennes Rotary Club, the little Club that said, “Yes we can make a difference!” are excited to be able to work with Rotarians near and far to bring clean water to our brothers and sisters south of the border.  This is another example that Rotarians in Action can Serve to Change Lives!
 
Contacts for further info.:  Scott Gaines – 802-877-2878 & Fr. Yvon Royer – 802-334-6810