Longmont Rotary Charity Fund Inc

Longmont Symphony Orchestra Senior Center Concerts: The Longmont Symphony Orchestra (LSO) has a mission to enrich, inspire and serve our extended community as a symphony orchestra recognized for its artistic excellence. We envision a world where music is a catalyst that deepens awareness of our shared humanity through artistic collaboration that enriches Longmont and makes it the best place in Colorado to live. LSO provided 1 to 2 performances by LSO musicians at the Longmont Senior Center's Lunch Brunch per month. They also do an ensemble performance at the center for the Holidays. This grant helped continue and grow this program, allowing them to expand the number of Senior Center performances.

El Comité Health Fair: The mission of El Comité is to facilitate communication and understanding within the community to improve social justice, education, and economic status for the Latino, immigrant, and non-Latino members of the community. The Health Fair was held on August 10, the Saturday before schools started, at the Heart of Longmont Church which is 2 acres in size with enough room for tables for partners. 200 people attended and 32 partners hosted tables. Hopelight Clinic, with the volunteer services of Dr. Julia Bruce, provided 27 clients with medical consults, scheduled 15 follow-up visits, and conducted 15 sports physicals. Boulder County Health and Safeway together vaccinated 29 children and 10 adults, mostly newcomers.

Winter Warmth Coat Drive: Annual coat drive to secure coats, scarves, gloves, boots, and blankets for distribution through the OUR Center. LRCF Funding was used to purchase coats in children's sizes that are not donated in large enough quantities during the coat drive to meet the need. Fishbowl: Monthly donations are made to local charities selected by nominations to the Longmont Rotary Fishbowl Committee. LRCF added $500/month to each donation. Born to Read Program: This all-volunteer program provides information and books to parents of newborns at Longmont United Hospital (LUH) and Longs Peak Hospital. Materials encourage reading aloud to infants and toddlers. Two board books suitable for an infant are included. Nurses in the Birth Place provide counsel and distribute the bags which are in English and Spanish. 1,289 bags were distributed in 2024, a 13.4% increase. Born to Read celebrated 32 years in 2024 and has been supported by Longmont Rotary since its beginning. Rotary District Matching Grant - Growing Gardens: Growing Gardens works to ensure that every family in Boulder County can access fresh healthy food while caring for the environment, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to nourish their bodies, their community, and their planet. This grant will help expand the new Food Project Farm on 15th and Pratt in Longmont, Colorado. Funding will provide infrastructure needs such as Irrigation systems, compost, tools, fencing, seeds, and pots New in 2024: Kids Fishing Program: Kids Fishing Day is a program run by the Breakfast Optimist Club of Longmont, introducing kids to fishing and the outdoors. Kids receive a free fishing pole with lunch available for kids, parents, and volunteers. This grant is for stocking Isaac Walton Pond with fish, purchasing rods and reels, and for serving lunch to kids and volunteers. In 2024, 250+ children and parents attended, and 150 fishing poles were distributed. 350 hot dogs, soda, and chips were consumed! The event is scheduled each year on a Saturday at the beginning of Spring Break and returned in the 2023-24 school year after a pandemic-driven hiatus. Longmont Meals on Wheels: The mission of Longmont Meals on Wheels (LMOW) is to serve our community by promoting client health and independence through good nutrition and social interaction. Longmont Meals on Wheels helps older people and people with disabilities with proper, affordable nutrition so that they can stay self sufficient in their own homes for as long as possible. The grant was used to subsidize the cost of providing meals and additional support services to older adults and people with disabilities in the Home-Delivered Meal Program.