Rotary Club of Gold Beach

Since it's establishment in 1982, Rotary First Harvest (RFH) has collected and distributed more than 135 million pounds of produce.

RFH acts as a conduit between farmers and the programs that serve hungry individuals and families. Farmers are occasionally left with surplus fruits and vegetables that can't be sold due to minor imperfections (such as carrots with two legs or apples that are the wrong size or color), or might not be harvested because of a glut on the market.

Traditionally, this nutritious produce would be sent to a landfill or left to rot in the fields. Instead, RFH directs it to those in need.

Rotary First Harvest's mission is:

• To feed the hungry with surplus nutritious food
• Access and improve food distribution and transportation systems
• Develop innovative hunger relief solutions
• Replicate concept of RFH

The Rotary Club of Gold Beach participates in Rotary First Harvest is several ways, one of which is to participate in the purchase of raffle tickets offered periodically. For more information, contact your local Rotary Board member or the Rotary First Harvest website.

Providing clean water to needy communities worldwide has been a key emphasis of Rotary International Presidents for many years.  The Rotary Club of Gold Beach has identified this as a club goal since 2006 - thanks to the enthusiasm of local community members Toni & Terri-Lynn Kalhagen. You are invited to partner with the Rotary Club of Gold Beach to fund an International Service Clean Water Project in Upper East Ghana.

In 2006, Gold Beach residents Tony and Terri-Lynn Kalhagen traveled the unimproved roads, rivers, and trails of west Africa to reach the village of Gungabisi in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Region of Ghana. Their purpose was to meet the women who produce the beautiful Bolga African basketry. The tale of their adventure is remarkable, as is the need of the villagers throughout Bolgatanga. To sustain their village, the women of Gungabisi must daily carry untreated river water for miles. No other source of water currently exists, so villagers have a dire need of a well for clean water.

The Rotary Club of Gold Beach has structured an International Service Project to fund the development of wells in Bolgatanga. Our goal to build one or more clean water wells for the village of Gungabisi in the fall of 2008 was accomplished. The cost of one well was 3,500.00 Ghanaian Cedis (about US $3,500.00). Development of a well at that time took approximately two months.

And, that was just the beginning. In November 2008, the Kalhagens returned to Gungabisi, where Tony and Terri-Lynn filmed the completion and dedication of the village well for Rotary International.

The project has grown and more wells have been identified in other villages (4-6), a school and a medical clinic have been added to the project - now deemed the "Ripple Effect".  The scope of the project has increased along with the budget.  The Gold Beach Rotary Club has agreed to help raise funds in the amount of $25,000 to make this dream a reality.  Join with us...ask us how YOU can participate.

In spring of 2011, a second Rotary fresh water well was developed in the village of Bon Gurugo Asaloko  This well was actually drilled using borehole mechanical equipment as opposed to the first well in Bolgatanga which was hand dug.  A third well is slated for completion in late 2011 - to be dedicated during the Kalhagen's next visit to Ghana in November 2011.  They will be taking additional photos and video of the wells.  10 other travelers will be 'touring' with the Kalhagens for a great adventure!

We're pleased that the Kalhagens have chosen the Gold Beach Rotary Club to partner with in their clean water efforts.

Stay tuned

An estimated 500,000 children worldwide have been maimed by land mines. Even more, both adults and children, are survivors of acts of violence, political oppression, vehicular and other accidents, and birth defects.

The LN-4 Prosthetic Hand Project was spearheaded by Ernie Meadows as a memorial to his daughter Ellen. Visit the LN-4 website to hear the story of how Rotary became involved with the hand and how Rotary Districts 5110 and 5160 joined together to provide the hand for those in need . . . . at no cost to the recipients. Learn more about the hand . . . learn how it works . . . read the reports from the teams that put the hand through its trials . . . view the photos of the recipients . . . and learn how you can become involved in this most worthwhile endeavor.

The Rotary Club of Gold Beach has participated in this project by learning more about it through presentation at the weekly luncheon meeting, and subsequently expanding the Ghana Clean Water Project to include identifying and fitting residents of Ghana with these prosthetic devices.