Stories
Working with Rotarians St. Thomas More High School (TMHS) Honor Society students contributed the equivalent of 40 work hours preparing craft kits for the South Milwaukee Publc Library. Students packaged craft kits for a catapult and a three sisters garden. Others researched a rocket project and tested construction options. Thanks to their prep help, the library is ready to offer free craft kits and assistance to children at the South Milwaukee summer market on the last Thursday of each month.
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Feeding People who Are HomelessSt. Thomas More students joined Rotarians to make 300 sandwiches, of assorted varieties, in February. Working in assembly lines, sandwiches were put together and packaged for delivery by the students. Rotarians then delivered the completed sandwiches to Guest House of Milwaukee, the largest publicly-funded homeless shelter in the city of Milwaukee.
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Sending Cheer to Home-bound AdultsDozens of St. Thomas More High School students took time to write caring messages to Project Concern clients on Friday, January 27. The activity helps Project Concern in Cudahy share warm thoughts with their home-bound clients during a cold, dreary season.
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Holiday Party Goers Welcome SantaForty-four friends with disabilities from Goodwill Industries and Milwaukee Center for Independence (MCFI) visited The Salvation Army’s Oak Creek Centennial Center, for the annual Holiday Cheer Party hosted by Rotarians and their friends. It was great to see everyone working side-by-side to deliver a fun time for our 44 guests. The party included elves, lunch with dessert, a bag of gifts, live music by The Salvation Army Band, singing Christmas carols and —of course — a visit from Santa. Once again, the Salvation Army crew outdid themselves, delivering a perfect blend of hospitality, food, and festive atmosphere. Many thanks to Santa Ken, Gingerbread Man Tom, and the Elf Brigade for making everyone smile. We greatly appreciate Larry and Holly’s pre-party efforts to invite and coordinate with MCFI and Goodwill.
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Thanksgiving Food Boxes DistributedTurkeys and boxes of food for Thanksgiving were given to 50 families, representing 265 people. Two individuals who were unable to leave their homes received prepared meals. Leftover supplies were donated to The Salvation Army food pantry. The project was a partnership of many local groups. Read more below. |
Warm Coats Arrive as Weather Turns Cold
168 heavy-duty winter coats for youth were purchased by the club to distribute to three local nonprofits. The boxes arrived at The Salvation Army Community Center in Oak Creek where Rotarians sorted them by size and gender. The sorted coats were repackaged and delivered to South Milwaukee Human Concerns, Project Concern in Cudahy, and The Salvation Army in Oak Creek. The club’s project was funded by Rotary District 6270 with additional funding from the South Milwaukee Lions Club and several members of the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field. |
48 Welcome Baskets Delivered to PathfindersDuring a seven-month period, Rotary members purchased more than 1,300 household items to make up 48 Welcome Baskets for Pathfinders. The Milwaukee-based non-profit helps move youth into safer, permanent housing. Each basket donated by the Rotary club was filled with kitchen basics for meal preparation and dining, bathroom items, and cleaning supplies needed to set up a new household. In lieu of regular meetings, Rotarians met and assembled baskets on five separate dates at MATC Oak Creek. During the project more than 200 hours of work was given by 16 Rotary members to plan, purchase, assemble and deliver the baskets. The project was funded by a $3000 Rotary District 6270 Grant.
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Flags Fly at South MilwaukeeThe weather was hot and the ground very dry but the flags are up! Thanks to MATC Criminal Justice students and St. Thomas More, the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field's Flags for Heroes are flying once again. We want to thank everyone who helped — from our littlest volunteer to our oldest Rotarian, not shown, who is 94. Please plan to attend the Flag Day ceremony outside by the South Milwaukee City Hall gazebo on Monday, June 14 at 6 pm. |
Now Helping Homeless YouthThe Rotary Club of Mitchell Field is driven by the needs of the communities it serves. After months of research during the COVID shutdown, the club is refocusing to serve homeless youth within the South Shore area. Rotary-HOME offers assistance with housing, opportunities, mentoring and other needs like secondary education for homeless youth. We thank The Salvation Army in Oak Creek, Pathfinders in Milwaukee and the area high schools whose counselors are partnering with Rotary to address this unmet need. Learn how you can get involved in this exciting new project, by emailing us. |
Now Helping Homeless YouthThe Rotary Club of Mitchell Field is driven by the needs of the communities it serves. After months of research during the COVID shutdown, the club is refocusing to serve homeless youth within the South Shore area. Rotary-HOME offers assistance with housing, opportunities, mentoring and other needs like secondary education for homeless youth. We thank The Salvation Army in Oak Creek, Pathfinders in Milwaukee and the area high schools whose counselors are partnering with Rotary to address this unmet need. Learn how you can get involved in this exciting new project, by emailing us. |
Hundreds Receive Thanksgiving MealThanksgiving won’t be the same this year. With Covid not much will. Yet more than three hundred residents in South Shore communities—who might have gone hungry—will enjoy a turkey dinner with all the fixings, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field and Meijers.
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Polio...Going, Going, Almost Gone!Let’s step in the “way back” machine. It’s 1985. Polio is paralyzing more than 1,000 children worldwide every day. The disease is endemic in 125 countries. Rotary International announces its plan to eradicate polio, called PolioPlus. It’s an ambitious goal. Only one human-disease-causing pathogen in the world was ever eradicated. Smallpox. Today polio cases have decreased over 99 per cent. Two of the three wildpolio viruses are gone. Type 2 was eradicated in 2015. Type 3 in 2019. Fittingly the announcement was made on World Polio Day, October 24, 2019. |
Santa Visits Goodwill ClientsForty-one shouts of joy filled the air as Santa arrived at the Christmas Party held by the Rotary Club of Mitchell. Goodwill clients throughout Milwaukee came for a meal, music from the Salvation Army band, caroling, and — of course — the visit from Santa. The party started decades ago and is a high point these often forgotten adults. Ho! Ho! Ho!
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Honor Your Heroes! Fly a flag for them.Hundreds of American flags flew at Oak Creek Community Center and South Milwaukee City Hall to salute local heroes. Flags for Heroes is… A highly visible way to recognize a hero with dignity and honor. A special remembrance for the person who has enough stuff in their life. A way to honor a hero while helping others in need. Download flag order forms at left under Downloads. Forms for both Oak Creek (over Memorial Day) and South Milwaukee (over Flag Day) are now available. |
Six Appeal Returns to MilwaukappellaThe Rotary Club of Mitchell Field proudly presents... October 12, 2019 South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center Doors open at 7:00PM, the show starts at 7:30PM This year's headline act; the remarkable Six Appeal Vocal Band! Six Appeal is a world-class vocal ensemble just back from their second straight First Prize "Grand Prix" win at the annual Moscow Spring A Cappella festival - the largest a cappella competition in the world. Six Appeal combines top-notch musical talent and superb comedic timing with the energy, showmanship and verve of a rock band. The group’s repertoire features Pop, County, Rock, Jazz, R&B and more – all a cappella. Milwaukappella is a showcase where audiences can see the best of the best professional a cappella performances but it is also a place for high school and college age a cappella singers to study and grow. Students at all skill levels are welcome whether they're in a group or all alone. All attendees will benefit from the knowledge and skills of the cadre of big-name, big-talent instructors brought in to teach. Milwaukappella headliners are chosen not only for their mad performance skills but for their ability and willingness to teach. |
Heroes HonoredThe Rotary Club of Mitchell Field completed its second annual “Flags for Heroes” project in Oak Creek this year and its first in South Milwaukee. This multi-purpose event was designed to honor heroes—military and civilian, deceased and living—at a display of 200 American flags placed on the lawn of the Oak Creek Community Center over the Memorial Day weekend and 100 around South Milwaukee City Hall from Flag Day through the Fourth of July. Funds raised by these events help support RCMF’s charitable and community projects such as the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative and VetsNet, families in need, senior citizen organizations and college scholarships for area high school graduating seniors. |
Food Truck Sunday in South MilwaukeeGREAT FOOD • LIVE MUSIC • SHADED SEATING Due to work on the downtown streets of South Milwaukee, Food Truck Sunday will not be held the fall of 2019. We hope to return in the spring of 2020. To stay up to date on upcoming event dates, participating food trucks, menus and more -- please visit our Facebook page at Rotary Club of Mitchell Field Food Truck Sunday and Like us.
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We've Been Working on the FarmThe Rotary Club of Mitchell Field in Milwaukee just finished several days of helping at the Hunger Task Force Farm. We did it all, from planting seeds to transplanting them into the ground to hoeing weeds (hard work!) because we believe in serving others and an acre of cabbage will feed 6,000 families. If you are interested in joining our merry group of "farmers" later this year (dates TBD by the growing season) for the harvest drop us an email at info@rcomf.org.
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Serving Our Local CommunitiesSeveral times a year Rotarians meet at local non-profits to provide service. Past service projects have included changing from winter to summer clothes at Human Concerns's free store in South Milwaukee, practicing English with non-native speakers in MATC's ESL program located at Oak Creek, planting crops at the Hunger Task Force Farm in Franklin, and sorting food at the Salvation Army in Oak Creek.
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Making a Difference in TanzaniaWhen the 2017-18 Rotary International president, Ian Riseley asked each Rotarian to plant a tree, the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field thought beyond its service area to where they could do the most good. They reached out to Tanzania where people are struggling to survive. Through a contribution to Simple Hope, a Milwaukee-based non-profit, the club purchased 25 fruit trees in Tanzania. Along with the Mukwonago Rotary Club, they were able to fill a truck and take delivery the day before the road was washed out by rain. |
Senior Prom for the Young at HeartLike dancing to a live swing band? Refreshments? Lots of door prizes? On Sunday, April 29, 2018, the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field will hold its 37th annual "Step into Spring" Senior Prom at Oak Creek Community Center, 8580 S. Howell Avenue, Oak Creek. Tickets are $5 a person. They may be purchased at Oak Creek Community Center, 414-768-5840; Bay View Community Center, 414-482-1000; Grobschmidt Senior Center (S. Milw.), 414-768-8045, and Kelly Senior Center (Cudahy), 414-481-9611. Music will be provided by the 14-piece Village Swing Band. So dust off your dancing shoes, dig out your best dancing duds and join us for a fun-filled afternoon. For more information, contact the Oak Creek Community Center or email us.
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Learning Goes On at Milwaukappella..before the curtains go up. An important part of Milwaukappella is the full-day a cappella workshop for high school and college students. The student workshop fee includes lunch, dinner, the opportunity to open the evening show and a ticket to enjoy a premium seat for Transit’s performance. The workshop is open to all high school- and college-age a cappella singers, whether or not they’re currently in a vocal group. Sign up early! Attendance has increased each year and spots are limited. |
Bake Sale Fights PolioOn World Polio Day, October 24, 2017, one of the newest members of the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field showed the club how a corporate member can involve and inspire a whole company to serve others through Rotary. Eder Flag’s COO Jodi Goglio, who joined the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field in July as its first corporate member, spoke with Eder Flag employees about Rotary’s polio eradication effort. They jointly decided to hold a bake sale with all proceeds going to fight polio. Many donated the baked the goods that filled the tables in their lunchroom. Others purchased them. Everyone learned about Rotary and its effort to end polio. When the bake sale ended two hours later more than $460 had been raised. “I am incredibly proud of our team,” said Jodi. |
A Cappella + Milwaukee =Are you ready for an opportunity to enjoy an amazing a cappella performance, raise money and have fun? On Saturday, January 20, 2018, the Rotary Club of Mitchell Field will host its fourth annual Milwaukappella performance. The evening will feature Transit, the winner of the 2017 Open Mid-Atlantic Semifinal and a finalist in the 2017 International Championship of A Cappella. Proceeds from ticket sales will help fund community and international projects of The Rotary Club of Mitchell Field. |
Thanksgiving Baskets Feed the Hungry
For decades Rotarians, their family and friends have gathered on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to assemble and distribute Thanksgiving food baskets. Families and seniors in need are identified by social service agencies in South Milwaukee, Cudahy, St. Francis, Oak Creek and Franklin. With financial assistance from Meijers, our Rotary Club purchases enough food for each family to enjoy a complete Thanksgiving feast. Baskets are assembled at The Salvation Army and distributed by The Rotary Club of Mitchell Field, The Amigos de Milwaukee Rotary Club, and MATC’s CJSO (Criminal Justice Student Organization). |
Lunch with a PurposeWednesday, October 25, marked the second of our “service” meetings. Past President Ken Tregellas hosted Rotarians and friends at The Salvation Army in Oak Creek. |