West Salem Rotary Benefits Community

Best of the West Gift Boxes make perfect holiday gifts. Boxes are being sold by West Salem Rotary as a fundraiser to support scholarships and teacher grants benefiting students.

By Phil McCorkle, For The West Side Newspaper

“Service Above Self” is the guiding principle for West Salem Rotary. That means community involvement, and that involvement goes both ways. West Salem Rotary funds projects and presents informative programs that benefit the community, and members of the community are invited to participate in fundraising and programs.

This month, West Salem Rotary launches its annual fall fundraiser, including hazelnut gift boxes. All proceeds from gift box sales will support West Salem Rotary’s Student Scholarship Fund, Teacher Grant Program, and other community and international charitable projects. Gift boxes may be purchased on West Salem Rotary’s website: https://rotaryofwestsalem.org/collections/holiday-berry-sale.

Available this year are cases of 12 - 3-ounce bags of hazelnuts, including: salted, dry roasted, milk chocolate, and Marionberry.

Small gift box - $35

3-ounce bag of Salted Hazelnuts
3-ounce bag of Milk Chocolate Hazelnuts
4.25-ounce bag of Southwest Sizzle Trail Mix
6-ounce bag of Toffee Toasted Peanuts

Large gift Box - $50

3-ounce bag of Salted Hazelnuts
3-ounce bag of Milk Chocolate Hazelnuts
3-ounce bag of Marionberry Hazelnuts
4.25-ounce bag of Southwest Sizzle Trail Mix
6-ounce bag of Toffee Toasted Peanuts
5-ounce bag of Cranberry Nut & Seed mix
Two 4-ounce bags of Steel Bridge Coffee Beans

Fundraising proceeds are processed through West Salem Rotary Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Combined with other West Salem Rotary fundraising, the Foundation gives out 12 - $1,000 Scholarships, 10 - $500 teacher grants, and $4,000 towards international projects. Community donations are gladly accepted at: https://rotaryofwestsalem.org/pages/our-foundation. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Another way that West Salem Rotary benefits the community is by hosting informative programs of interest to people living in the greater West Salem area. This month the public is invited to attend the following programs:

Sept. 28 – Dr. Tim Ray, Chair of Polk County Fair Board of Directors, talking on the Polk Fair levy
Oct. 5 - Andrea Castañeda, Superintendent of Salem-Keizer Public Schools, presenting a school district update
Oct. 12 – Mike Long, Salem Toastmasters Club, with a program on how Toastmasters improves public speaking and leadership skills

West Salem Rotary meetings are held from Noon to 1 p.m., Mondays, upstairs in the West Salem Roth’s Catering Center. Meetings and parking are free to the public. A buffet-style lunch is available for $14. Lunch for seniors is $13.

Anyone interested in joining West Salem Rotary may contact Bryan Brown via email, bryanbrown4638@gmail.com.

For people who enjoy bowling, October offers one additional way to support a fundraiser for a great cause. West Salem Rotary is teaming up with other Salem Rotary Clubs for Bowl-io for Polio, a bowling event beginning at 6 p.m., Oct. 20, at The REC Lanes, 3500 North River Rd, in Keizer. Bowlers can sign up as teams of six for $125, or individually for $25. All proceeds go to PolioPlus, Rotary International's signature global program launched in 1985 to eradicate polio worldwide. Thanks to the Gates Foundation, all funds raised at this event will be tripled!

For more information or to sign up for any of the above activities, email: info@rotaryofwestsalem.org.