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Chestnut Hill Rotary provided more than 1,100 volunteer hours this past year in community service projects such as: assembling the stage for summer concerts in Pastorius Park; preparing food and gathering donated clothing for clients of Prevention Point Philadelphia; purchasing and distributing books to school students; and maintaining the pergola, one of Chestnut Hill’s many urban parks.
Founded in 1995 as a service club, Chestnut Hill Rotary has seen significant growth in membership over the past several years. Doubling in size over the past five years has enabled Rotary to increase its impact to support the local charitable and community organizations.
“A lot of people like to sit around the table and talk about what to do. That’s sometimes the easy part,” said Club President, Cathy Brzozowski. “What I find in Rotary is that people are ready to do something, they’re action-oriented, really making the steps necessary to get the work done in our community.”
Collections of donated food, clothing, and medical supplies
Over the past year, Chestnut Hill Rotary distributed more than $7,000 in collected donations of food, clothing and medical supplies to three organizations that help people who are often in dire need.
Tackling Food Insecurity
According to Feeding America’s 2023 Map the Meal Gap report, more than 210,000 Philadelphians—13.6% of the city’s residents—struggled with food insecurity. The issue has disproportionately affected communities of color, with 22% of Black households and 23% of Hispanic households lacking reliable access to nutritious food. Additionally, 25% of Philadelphia’s children experienced food insecurity, leading to developmental and educational challenges. With recent rise in food costs, the problem has become even more severe.
“When you wake up in the morning and you don’t know how you are going to feed your children, there is level of stress that you carry around throughout the day”
Last fall, Rotary members and friends collected and donated two carloads of food items for clients of Papermill Food Hub. “It is unbelievable the amount of food that Rotary members brought and packed,” said Annabel Wulfhart, Founder of Papermill Food Hub, “Each bag was stuffed with food, it’s unbelievable. The families are so lucky to have received this food from the Rotary Club!”
Wulfhart, a social worker, started Papermill Food Hub — named because of the building’s previous use — after witnessing first-hand the living conditions of some of her clients in Kensington. The area is infamous for extreme poverty and the open-air drug market fueled by the opioid crisis. Every week, her team of volunteers brings a box of grocery and pantry items, including diapers, detergent, and toilet paper to in-need families in Kensington.
In this video, Rotary volunteers sort and pack two carloads of donated food for Papermill Food Hub’s clients in need.
In the spring, Linda James Rivera, Founder & Executive Director, Northwest Mutual Aid Collective, spoke to members at a club meeting about her organization’s mission to combat food insecurity. Members sprang into action decided to do something to help. With the help of friends, they started a monthly collection of breakfast items to donate to Rivera’s organization that serves seniors, disabled residents, and low-income families in Northwest Philadelphia.
“When you wake up in the morning and you don’t know how you are going to feed your children, there is level of stress that you carry around throughout the day,” said.Wulfhart. “It’s not just the feeling of hunger. It’s stress and tension that seeps into every bit of the family’s life and leaks out into the community.”
Maggie Stoeffel delivering donated breakfast food to Linda James Rivera, Northwest Mutual Aid Collective.
“Northwest Mutual Aid Collective is positioned in the heart of Germantown where Linda and her team can meet the needs of their neighbors right where they live,” said Stoeffel. “They have made the process of collecting and distributing food as simple as possible.”
“Recent changes in the SNAP program will only make this worse,” said Erin Doyle-O’Connor, Chair of Rotary’s Food Insecurity Subcommittee. “Northwest Mutual Aid Collective works to combat food insecurity so that our neighbors do not go hungry.”
Helping the Unhoused
In January, members and their friends conducted a successful warm clothing and food drive for Prevention Point Philadelphia’s clients in honor of Martin Luther King’s birthday. The drive produced several carloads of coats, hats, sweaters, and socks for individuals who are unhoused, trying to cope with the harsh winter weather outdoors.
Prevention Point Philadelphia receiving warm winter clothing and supplies from Chestnut Hill Rotary volunteers.
This effort was followed and a few weeks later with 20 members preparing and serving a full chili dinner for 200 of their clients on a cold February day. Dubbed “Chilli-Fest”—a fitting name with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees—the event featured hot cups of chili and rice, along with cornbread, brownies, yogurt, other snacks, and bottled water. Food was served from a large tent, with rice heated in microwaves and chafing trays, and chili simmered outdoors in massive pots repurposed from the club’s annual Lobster-Fest.
“The folks who receive services at Prevention Point are vulnerable and struggling, and they are so grateful for every kindness shown to them., said Maggie Stoeffel, organizer of the event. “It’s a simple yet meaningful gesture to offer someone some delicious food.” Prevention Point Philadelphia provides an array of services to individuals with addiction and is located in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.
Volunteer hours in the community
Supporting Education
For more than a decade, Rotary volunteers raised funds, purchased dictionaries—totaling now more than 3,600—and donated them to third grade students in public schools in Northwest Philadelphia. Called the Dictionary Project, this year’s program included four elementary schools in Northwest Philadelphia: Eleanor C. Emlen, Henry H. Houston, J. S. Jenks Academy for the Arts & Sciences, and Anna L. Lingelbach Elementary School.
Pictured above, Rotary volunteers interacting with third grade students at four schools in Northwest Philadelphia.
However, the books are not merely just dropped off. Rotary volunteers coordinate the distribution with schoolteachers and principals in advance and then spend time interacting with the students to get them excited about using the books and learning new facts. And, for many of the students, it is the first book that they can call their own. Read more about the project’s impact in the Chestnut Hill Local article, CH Rotary Delivers Dictionaries and Inspires Students.
In this video, you’ll learn more about CH Rotary’s literacy project.
Tutoring Students in Reading and Math
Inspired by her participation in the Dictionary Project, Mary Louise Schneiders organized a group of volunteer members earlier in the spring to tutor kindergarten to 2nd grades students in reading and math at Emlen Elementary. The school provides support handouts and assigned students to the tutors. Schneiders, a Podiatrist, who also taught medical classes, is working with four other volunteers each week.
Mary Louise Schneiders helping third grade students to navigate the dictionary at Anna L. Lingelbach school last fall.
The idea came to Schneiders after she spent time with a student last fall at another school explaining how to use the dictionary to look up words and understand the meaning. She realized that some student need extra help to get to the required reading level. “Wow, I can actually read!” said the student. “I really feel we are making an impact with these students,” said Schneiders. The program is expected to continue until the end of the school year.
Supporting the Community and Local Environment
Rotary volunteers also support the Chestnut Hill Community Association (CHCA) by helping assemble and disassemble the stage in Pastorius Park for the popular free Pastorius Park Summer Concert Series. Because this work is labor-intensive, the extra help is greatly appreciated. Members also volunteer to host homes during the CHCA’s popular Holiday House Tours.
Club volunteers have been maintaining the Pergola at Germantown and Cresheim Valley Drive for 20 years. The stewardship of the pergolas began as a project celebrating the centennial celebration of Rotary International in 2006.
It was a really hot summer last year. So, seven Chestnut Hill Rotary volunteers decided to take care of and water eight newly planted trees at Eleanor C. Emlen Elementary School over the summer, donating over 120 hours over three months.
Pictured right: Volunteers watering trees at Eleanor C. Emlen Elementary over the hot summer.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, in partnership with Asplundh, had planted the eight trees in May 2025, which was part of an overall program that saw 2,200 trees in Philadelphia. Emlen is one of Chestnut Hill Rotary’s partner schools. Rotary volunteers were regularly joined by Amelia Duffy- Tumasz, Ph.D., Mt. Airy Tree Tender, and Doug Kingsbury, Mt. Airy resident. The volunteers watered and cared for the trees over the summer until teachers and administrators returned for the new school year.
Grant funding to local charities
Chestnut Hill Rotary utilizes members’ extensive knowledge of the local and international communities to identify areas of need and together work to improve that community. The club and its members provided more than $36,000 this past year through its grant program to local and international charities.
Funds are raised through successful events such as the Lobster Fest, Trivia and Bingo Nights. Grant funding is sometimes uses matching grants through Rotary resources to increase the impact. And, sometimes members just “pass the hat” or create their own fundraising challenge through members privately.
A child before and after surgery provided by Rotaplast International
For example, following a presentation about the work of Rotaplast International, Inc.—an organization committed to helping children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate— member Andy Sears was inspired enough to present a challenge to raise funds for the organization. “Rotaplast is one of those few amazing opportunities we have to so completely change a life,” said Sears. A few weeks later, with club funds and private donations from members, the challenge raised a record $6,000 for an upcoming mission in Medellin, Columbia.
CH Rotary also provided funding for the local community for:
All Kids Fish for scholarships for underserved 10–18-year-old kids which provides a fly-fishing experience and deep connection with nature.
Books for 3rd grade students to take home at four elementary schools.
Chestnut Hill Garden District to support their ongoing maintenance of Peace Park.
Funding for Danny’s House which provides support for women in recovery.
Playground seating for Eleanor C. Emlen Elementary school to honor their 100th Anniversary and funding to support science field trips.
Support of Face to Face Germantown’s annual Turkey Trot which proceeds provides support for individuals and families who are homeless and struggling with poverty.
Friends of Pastorius Park to help with their new tree restoration project.
Support for a violence prevention summer camp through Germantown Faith Communities Against Gun Violence.
Sponsored teens to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards which provides an intensive leadership experience for youth to develop leadership skills while having fun and making connections.
Support for The Business Center’s ‘Shark Tank’ program that teaches underserved youth how to start and pitch a business idea.
Defray training costs for PAR Recycle Works program which provides transitional employment, job skills, and permanent job placement for former incarcerated individuals.
Funding for Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia’s ‘Serve with Love’ dinner which supports families on their children’s healthcare journeys with a community of comfort and hope.
Support for Williamson College of the Trades scholarship program.
Grant funding to international charities
Since Rotary is a global organization with 1.4 million members in 200 countries, a portion of the Chestnut Hill Club’s charitable efforts focus on international needs.
Chestnut Hill Rotary received the 2025-26 Platinum Hero Award from ShelterBox USA, the international disaster relief organization. The Platinum Hero Award, their highest level, is given to Rotary Clubs and Districts that contribute $10,000 or more in one year. In addition to providing some temporary structure, ShelterBox provides basic necessities such as bedding, clothing, stoves, cooking supplies, hygiene kits, water filters, solar lights, and mosquito nets.
ShelterBox recently provided relief for: five hurricanes in Jamaica; working with non-UN agencies trying to get aid into Gaza; working with local Rotary clubs in the Philippines to provide aid to over 10,000 people affected by earthquakes and typhoons; and in the US providing relieve from hurricanes Helene, Milton, and the wildfires in Los Angeles.
“The International Committee of the Chestnut Hill Rotary Club fulfills our commitment to the worldwide effort of Rotary International to promote peace, understanding, tolerance, and safety globally,” said Sylvia Lanka Barone, Chair of the International Committee. “We unite with Rotarians around the world to do all we can to make the world a better place for those in great need.”
CH Rotary also provided funding for the international community for:
Vocational training and nutritional and agricultural initiatives at Bududa Learning Center, an orphanage in Uganda.
Support for Hope Children’s Home, an orphanage in Guyana, South America that houses children whose parents abandoned them.
Leadership training for youth supported by the Kuvuna Foundation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ravaged by war and poverty.
Support for a mission in Medellin, Columbia with Rotaplast International to conduct corrective surgeries for children with clef lip and clef palate.
ShelterBox USA, an international relief organization that provides temporary shelter and other supplies needed for families affected by natural disasters or conflicts around the world.
Electric solar-powered generators for hospitals in Ukraine, ravished by the war with Russia.
Consider joining us by becoming a member. Visit Join Our Club page for more information how you can benefit while serving the community. Or, consider making an online donation to support our work in the community.
