Middletown CT Rotary - Turkey Drive Information

Members of the 27 Rotary Clubs participating in the 2011 Liberty Bank/Rotary Club Thanksgiving Dinner Drive are welcome to download the marketing materials listed below by clicking the bold links.

8.5" x 11" Customizable Flyer

11" x 14 Customizable Poster

Donation Jar Wrapper

This can be used to wrap around a jar or can in which people can drop donations-can be used at a retail business or in a workplace. The wrappers will need to be trimmed to size.

The following marketing materials can be obtained by contacting Toral Maher at the Liberty Bank Foundation at (860) 638-2961 or tmaher@liberty-bank.com.

3.5" x 8.5" flyers (packaged in 100's)

3.625" x 5.75" Business slips

These are designed to be sold at businesses or workplaces. For a suggested $1 donation, the donor writes his/her name on the bottom of the slip, which is then displayed at the business.

If there's anything we can do to help your Rotary Club with its fundraising for this year's drive, please contact the Liberty Bank Foundation. Thanks!

Middletown Member Delivery Instructions

Delivering the makings of a Thanksgiving Dinner to area deserving families has become one of the most personally rewarding projects of our Middletown Rotary Club. (It also won a 2008 Rotary International Cooperation Award for our partnerships with Liberty Bank Foundation, American Red Cross, Stop & Shop and other District Rotary Clubs.)

The Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project collects names of families from other local agencies and faith communities. They screen the families to assure need and no duplication of deliveries. They provide the Club with names, addresses and phone numbers. We distribute this info to Rotarians in advance to those Rotarians who volunteer to make deliveries. In addition we raise funds, matched by Liberty Bank Foundation to give to local food pantries. Below are the details.

On Tuesday, November 22 those who have volunteered to make a special contribution should give this day. You are supporting the Liberty Bank Foundation Challenge of $1 for every $3 donated that will go to local food pantries. Give your checks (made out to Middletown Rotary Club with Turkey Drive written in the memo) or cash to Patti Vassia, Sue Murphy or Chris Soulias) so they can be deposited before the Saturday Friday 19th deadline. These combined funds will be distributed to Amazing Grace, Cromwell, Durham, Portland and Middlefield food programs. - the week before Thanksgiving

How much should your donation be? That is completely up to you. We are very grateful to those who have pledged or already given $100. Not all are able to do that much, but donations add up and together the sum becomes significant. Please remember how much we have learned about the need from Ron Krom, Executive Director of St. Vincent DePaul Place, Kevin and Andy on the Food Stamp Challenge and others. We can truly make a big difference for Thanksgiving, the holidays and into the New Year. Please be as generous as possible.

Those making deliveries will be given contact information for the families to receive Thanksgiving dinners. (names, addresses, phone numbers). Deliverers should call each family to let them know that their dinners will be delivered next Tuesday between 12:30 and 2:30. Be sure to secure directions for delivery, apartment or any special entrance.

On Tuesday, November 22 the Tuesday before Thanksgiving We skip our usual meal. All Rotarians (except those who are working the Stop & Shop dock) are to report to First and Last to get attendance credit and pay for no lunch. - Thanks to Stop & Shop we get a special rate and the Club pays about $45 to $50 for each family's food delivery. A $50 donation would be an ideal donation as this is about the cost of one dinner you are delivering. But any amount of $14 or more is appreciated. The money collected that day goes towards buying the dinners from Stop & Shop. After a reflection and getting last minute instructions, we go to the rear of Stop & Shop (enter from right side of the building) and pick up boxes of food and turkeys that we deliver to families whose names we have been given and notified in advance.

Thanks for your support...email questions or see us at meetings on Tuesday.

Sue Murphy at 860-638-2959 smurphy@liberty-bank.com or Patti Vassai at 860-685-1942 pavassia@gmail.com

Turkey Dinner Food Delivery Instructions

Thank you for helping with the distribution of Turkey Dinners on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Here are some suggestions to make things go smoothly.

BeforeTuesday, over the weekend

Call the family and let them know you are a Rotarian and will be delivering their food sometime after 12:30 on Tuesday.

Make sure someone can be there to receive the food

Confirm the address, get directions and which entrance to use. (Make note on their sheet)

Clear out the trunk of your car/van or back of your truck

On Tuesday

Report to First and Last to check in for attendance, pay for lunch, if you haven't already. Bring your sheets with you!
Receive any last minute instructions and ask any questions you might have
Drive to the rear of Stop & Shop (enter from driveway on right side of the store)
Pick up ALL required food from folks on the dock (box, plus turkey for each family)
Deliver to your assigned families with a smile and tell them Happy Thanksgiving from the Middletown Rotary Club.

If no one is home, try calling cell if provided, or again later in afternoon.

If not able to deliver to the family, return food to the back entrance of Amazing Grace (860-347-3222)16 Stack Street before 4 PM. Be sure to leave the family enrollment sheet with the box so they can follow-up. Call the family and leave a message that they can pick up their food on Wednesday from 10 AM to 4 PM at the back entrance of Amazing Grace

Call Patti 685-1942 if you cannot make deliveries or if you have any questions on that day.