Our Projects
Haiti
The club has been involved with FISH Ministries in Haiti since 2004. The main objective of the project is to provide animal protein to malnourished
children. At least 12 Sunrise members have traveled to the project site and several have visited on multiple occasions. The program currently feeds
approximately 1,200 children three times per week. Since the devastating 2010 earthquake our club has partnered with the University of Florida
College of Public Health and Health Professions to expand the project. With this expansion, the addition of a vocational school is in the process
and an emphasis on public health initiatives has been added. The goal of the "Better Tomorrow for Haiti" program is to assist Haitian residents in
becoming self sufficient by providing them with training and micro finance loans.
Heart and Sole
This project provides shoes and socks to needy K through 3 grade elementary school children throughout the Palatka and west areas of the county.
Guidance counselors and teachers help identify the children who benefit from this project. To date, shoes have been distributed to students
attending Browning Pearce, Interlachen, James A. Long, Ochwilla, and Mellon Elementary Schools.
Honor Air
This project was in partnership with First Coast Honor Air. On May 22, 2010, twenty-four Putnam County World War II veterans were honored in
Washington, DC at the World War II Memorial for their commitment to America. On Friday, May 21st with the help of the Putnam community, these
individuals were given a hero's send-off as they paraded to Jacksonville International Airport with "Law Enforcement Honor Guard" all the way.
This same level of celebration continued for the next 24 hours during their trip to and from Washington. Palatka Sunrise Rotary honors the men
and women who serve in the military.
Literacy Project
Second grade students at several selected school sites are visited by Sunrise Rotarians for this "annual reading" project. Members arrive at the
school with their books in hand, and sometimes with various props to make the book really exciting for the students. At the end of the "read"
several copies of the book are left with the classroom teachers to be added to the class libraries.
Purple Pinkie Project
This project is held in the Putnam County School District schools and mimics the process an infant or small child would go through after receiving
a polio immunization by dying the little fingers of all students who donate a dollar with a harmless gentian violet dye. On National Immunization
Day the dye on a child's pinkie finger indicates that he/she has received inoculation and prevents re-inoculation. The money raised during this
project goes to the End Polio Now Campaign.
Senior Day at the Putnam County Fair
The Sunrise Rotary sponsors the "Senior Day Luncheon" at the Annual Putnam County Fair. Senior citizens are treated to a picnic lunch cooked and
served by Sunrise members. Last year approximately 700 senior citizens from throughout the community enjoyed the lunch.
Senior Santa
The Rotary Club of Palatka Sunrise made Christmas a little merrier in 2010 by presenting gifts to over 35 senior citizens living in nursing homes
throughout Putnam County. Many of the gifts were hand delivered by Rotary members. This was the inaugural Senior Santa project for the club.
Hopefully, in the years to come even more senior citizens will be reached by this outstanding community project.
Wipe 'N Dipe
This project was to support the goal of A Woman's Resource Center by providing supplies to them to be used in working with women and their families
of unplanned pregnancies. The club purchased diapers, wipes, paper towels, and printing supplies for the center.
Other Programs the Sunrise Rotary Club Supports
- Beasley Middle School Jr. National Honor Society
- Communities In Schools of Northeast Florida
- Jenkins Middle School Jr. Beta Club
- Lee Conlee Domestic Violence Shelter
- Palatka Christian Service Center
- Palatka High School Carpentry Department – Personal Energy Transportation (PETs)
- Palatka Police Department's Victims Advocates Program
- Relay for Life
- Rodeheaver Boy's Ranch
- St. Vincent's DePaul
| 
