Rotarians honor health care workers during National Skilled Nursing Care Week

Posted

BROOKINGS – Members of the Brookings Rotary Club recognized the contributions of local skilled nursing home workers during National Skilled Nursing Care Week with gift cards to local restaurants.

Every staff person at United Living Community received a gift card to Wooden Legs Brewing Company, and every staff person at The Neighborhoods at Brookview received a gift card to Cubby’s.

“We are so grateful for these workers’ selfless contributions to our community’s seniors,” said Jennifer Soma, president of the Brookings Rotary Club. “It was a privilege to gift them with small tokens of our appreciation, while supporting two of our wonderful local restaurants.” 

The funding for the project came from an anonymous gift from within the Rotary Club, a match from the club, and a grant from Rotary District 5610. The total project funding came in at $5,000, and about 250 gifts were presented.

Each gift card was accompanied by a personal thank-you note hand-written by one of the local Rotarians. The project was coordinated by Michael Gonda, the club’s Community Service Committee Chair.

Administrators Kaleb Hight at ULC and Jason Hamilton at The Neighborhoods expressed appreciation for the gifts, noting that staff members have been working especially hard to engage residents in creative, safe activities during restrictive COVID-19 lockdowns.

The Brookings Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, a 115-year-old service organization with 35,000 clubs and more than 1.2 million members around the globe. 

The local club, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, meets at 12 p.m. each Tuesday, currently via Zoom, and guests and prospective members are welcome. For more information, contact President Jenn at Jennifer.soma@thrivent.com or President-Elect Don Norton, donnnorton75@gmail.com.