A Moving Reminder of the Difference We Make
 
The Welcome Home Basket Project has been a signature hands-on activity of the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club.  These baskets are filled with household items to help previously unhoused people get started in their new homes. Thanks to a $3,000 District Grant and a matching $3,000 from the Community Service Committee, our club was able to purchase items for 72 Welcome Home Baskets!  12 Rotarians met at Father Joe's warehouse and set up an assembly line to put the baskets together.  As each basket was completed a note welcoming the recipient to their new home was added.  These notes were prepared by members of the Community Service Committee and were sealed with a Rotary sticker.  We recently received a thank you email from one of the recipients confirming the positive impact of our efforts.  The email was titled "My Deepest Gratitude"
 
"I write to you to express my gratitude to your organization for the welcome basket of household items that your organization provides to new tenants who have moved from the temporary shelter provided by Father Joe's Charities to long-term housing.  I know many of those who received such bounty do not convey their gratitude for your organization's generosity but I would be remiss for not doing so.  I am having to re-start my life again after losing much but such acts are a godsend and mean a lot to one in my situation and I want to tell you how grateful I am that people like you still care for my well-being.  My sincere appreciation for your gift.  God bless and thank you."  - R.R.                                                                     
 
This a potent reminder of why we are Rotarians.  Thank you all!