“In this time of need the Summerlin Rotary Club created a special Community Resource Fund to support the area’s at-risk teens and seniors,” said Glenn Ritt, club president.” The club then presented $2,000 checks to Nevada Partnership for the Homeless Youth (NPHY) and Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada Meals on Wheels.
The nonprofits were selected by polling the club’s 66 members. “We selected them because they offer valuable and necessary services for Las Vegas’ at-risk populations. This is especially crucial now because of the COVID-19 lockdown,” said Ritt.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, served 2,200 seniors daily. Now, that number is significantly higher. “For 85% of the seniors that we serve this is their only meal of the day,” commented Meals on Wheels Samantha Steele. “Most of our clients are housebound and their income is below the poverty line.” In Nevada that figure is $16,753. Meals on Wheels’ service is critical during COVID-19 lockdown.
Nevada Partnership for Home less Youth (NPHY) offer programs and services that provide assistance to the 12- to 20-year-old population who require immediate need. According to NPHY Melissa Jacobowitz, “Nevada has one of the worse problems with homeless youth.” NPHY outreach services include hygiene kits, health care, mobile assistance trailers, emergency shelters, showers, enrichment activities, transitional housing, and life skills education.
Summerlin Rotary is part of an international organization of business and professional people who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotarians in 200 countries.
Summerlin Rotary was established in 1997. The club meets for breakfast on the first and third Tuesdays at TPC Summerlin.