Mon-Yough River Valley Rotary eyes future projects

Four new members were inducted as the club held its first Discover Rotary event.

The Mon-Yough River Valley Rotary Club hosted its first Discover Rotary event this week, where they inducted new members, looked forward to the future and discussed new projects.

Shown, from left, are newly inducted members Carlos Romero, Abigail Duda, Bernie Bandini, Tara Lenhart, and Mon-Yough River Valley Rotary Club President Donna Vesely.

On Tuesday at the Dunlevy Borough Recreation Center, club members gathered to induct Abi Duda, Tara Lenhart, Carlos Romero and Bernie Bandini. The event involved teaching potential new inductees about what Rotary does and discussing upcoming projects.

“Though our club is just over a year old, we are driven by a shared purpose to serve, grow and make a difference in our communities and beyond,” Mon-Yough Rotary President Donna Vesely said to those at the event. “This evening, we hope our brief presentation will inspire you and offer a glimpse of how you can be a part of something bigger, a network of people committed to service above self.”

Before the event began, Rotary Secretary Sue McFarland Bandini and Vice President Andreia Sands surprised Vesely with the Rotarian of the Year award.

“She’s done it all against the backdrop of some amazing, formidable challenges,” McFarland Bandini said. “But even when the going got tough, she never gave up, and she encouraged and pushed all of us to continue. I am so glad that she did. I would hate to have missed this experience.”

After Vesely accepted her award, she got the event started by highlighting some of the key missions of the Rotary.

Several members talked about the impact they’ve already made on the region, including sponsoring the Charleroi Area School District Rotary Interact Club, helping with work at Monessen City Park, CPR classes, care bags, sponsoring students to study abroad and a lot more.

Vesely focused on their ambitious project to host a health care clinic at Belle Vernon Area High School next year, sponsored by RAM USA. The free clinic would provide dental, vision, and medical care to anyone in the Mon Valley.

The Belle Vernon Area school board last month approved hosting the clinic that is expected to take place on April 16 and 17 in 2027.

The Rotary club has several months to prepare, but members acknowledge it will be a huge endeavor to bring all those health care providers and equipment to the region. Vesely emphasized that they’re determined to make it happen for the Mon Valley.

Some club members have attended clinics in Erie, Pa., and Philadelphia to learn more about what it’s like. Vesely is excited to bring it to fruition.

“It’s a free clinic, free medical, dental and vision care, there’s like no cost involved,” Vesely said. “It’s really a very special program. It’s not anything that has been done by any Rotary Club or any other orga- nization in the Valley. So I’m very inspired.”

The club will be working on ways to raise funds for the event. Vesely added that they will also be looking for volunteers who can help out at the clinic.

Anyone interested in making a donation or volunteering for the clinic can send an email to myrvrotary@gmail. com.

Donation

Vesely explained that they try to raise money for Alzheimer’s research and to make a donation to a local organization.

Typically, a Rotary member selected at random is allowed to pick an organization of their choice to donate funds to.

On Tuesday, Little Things for Little People received a $100 donation, which was accepted by Laura Wilson, program coordinator for the organization.

Little Things provides clothes, toys, diapers and other important items for area families in need.

“The Little Things for Little People program has been around for 14 years,” Wilson said. “We started in the basement of St. Sebastian Church, and then we moved to the Methodist Church in Belle Vernon and now we’re located in Monessen. We offer it twice a month, where families can come in, and they can just shop in our rooms.

“They get diapers, wipes, anything baby-related that we get in, we give out gently used.”