On a chilly late fall morning, Henry H. Houston Elementary School Principal Leroy Hall leads a cheerful “ABC Song” with third grade students who were excitingly waving dictionaries in the air.  

“A B C D E F G… now I know my…” Accompanying Hall in the school’s library were teachers and a half dozen Chestnut Hill Rotary volunteers.  

Over a period of several months in 2024, Chestnut Hill Rotary members gathered to reimagine the future and develop a new vision and plan to achieve that stated goal.  

In support of Martin Luther King's birthday on January 20—a day dedicated to encouraging Americans to participate in community service—Chestnut Hill Rotary is conducting a Winter Clothing and Food Drive to benefit clients of Prevention Point Philadelphia.

“It is unbelievable, the amount of food that the Rotary Club brought in and went to the supermarket on the week of Thanksgiving,” said Wulfhart. “They were so enthusiastic sorting and packing and my whole car is full of bags of food!”

Back in August, Annabel Wulfhart, Founder, Papermill Food Hub, spoke at Chestnut Hill Rotary’s breakfast program about the vital work of her organization does to provide food and other needed supplies for residents in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.

Once the resident of nearby Mt. Airy spoke, member and Community Service Chair, Maggie Stoeffel knew that the club had to help.

The Rotary Club of Chestnut Hill continues its extensive outreach in the community, recently awarding grants to nine local organizations that fall within several of Rotary International’s areas of focus: supporting education, improving local communities, maternal and child health, and protecting the environment.

Polio was once one of the most feared diseases globally. A highly infectious disease with no cure, polio spread rapidly through communities and left devastation in its wake. Every year, thousands of children used to be killed and hundreds of thousands paralyzed.

More than 200 Arcadia University students, faculty, Rotarians and community members attended the event Tuesday evening on the Arcadia Campus along with community partners PA Youth Vote, League of Women Voters of PA, Fresh Artists, The Chestnut Hill Local and the Arcadia Votes student-led group also attended.

Today, Southeastern PA Rotary leaders announced a 30-day challenge to raise $20,000 for people affected by hurricane Helene in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. The SE PA District pledged $5,000 to kick off the campaign.

Chestnut Hill Local, October 3, 2024

The Rotary Club of Chestnut Hill is partnering with Arcadia University to sponsor a civic education discussion Oct. 8 examining “Why Pennsylvania Matters Most in 2024.”

The nonpartisan forum will focus on Pennsylvania’s significance in this year’s presidential election. The free event will be at Arcadia and begins at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required. The Chestnut Hill Community Association and Mt. Airy CDC are among the event’s community partners.