The impact of Covid 19 wiped out the two annual fund-raising events last year and that impacted the Rotary Club of Farragut’s (RCF) financial support of community organizations. Negatively. That said, our club held some smaller in-club events to replace a portion of those funds.
In late June the club’s board of directors found $7,500 in undesignated money to give to 11 community groups that individually and collectively make major differences in our community. It’s not as much as we’ve had available in past years, but it’s a lot better than nothing, we think and hope. Many non-profits here have been riddled financially by Covid.
The club is giving $1,000 to these organizations:
- Safe Haven Empowerment House Austin-East
- Our Place Adult Care
- Smoky Mountain Service Dogs for Veterans
- The Dream Connection
These groups will be receiving $500 each:
- Smoky Mountain Blues Society
- Honor Air
- American Cancer Society
- Volunteer Ministry Center
- Laundry Love
- The Ronald McDonald House
- STAR (Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding)
We’ve also set aside money for several educational scholarships for deserving students as they begin their college careers and for a few in the midst of their educational journeys. More about that to come soon.
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For your calendars: The 29th Annual Free Flu Shot Saturday will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, at Farragut High School. Again this year the RCF will be staffing this event with our club members and family members, plus members of the Interact Clubs at Hardin Valley Academy and Christian Academy of Knoxville. Knoxville’s other five Rotary clubs will be volunteering for this great event as well. More details to come.
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Wayne Davis
Long-time RCF member Wayne Davis is finally retiring — at 86. And he’s an in-shape and active 86. He has sold his John Deere Farragut Lawn & Tractor dealership in Dixie Lee Junction to Ag-Pro, which owns 78 other Deere dealerships in 12 states.
“It has been a hoot these last 30 years, allowing me to meet so many great people,” Wayne said. “It’s time for me to go. I’ll be finding ways to stay active. I’m not going to spend the days napping. But that sounds OK right now.”
To explore membership in the Rotary Club of Farragut, call 865-659-3562. Tom King, a past president of Farragut Rotary, has served at newspapers in Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and California and has been the editor of two newspapers.