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Sisters Acacia Wastchak, 17, and Lauryl Wastchak, 15, are both members of Saguaro High School’s Rotary Interact Club. They volunteered to load medical supplies this month alongside several Valley Rotary Clubs, including the Rotary Club of Scottsdale. (Bob Rink)
Scottsdale Rotarians help virus-ravaged Mexico
BY KRISTINE CANNON
Progress Staff Writer
Recent Saguaro High School graduate Acacia Wastchak never met her grandfather, David Wastchak, who died before she was born.
But that didn’t stop the 17-year-old from continuing his legacy as an impassioned, accomplished Rotarian.
“My grandfather was actually a pioneer Rotarian in Arizona and was very big into everything Rotary,” Acacia said. “I feel very connected to him whenever I do things with Rotary.”
Acacia’s accomplishments as a teenage Rotarian run long. She joined the Rotary Interact District 5495 Council’s executive board as assistance district governor and also embarked on a short-term Rotary youth exchange to Ecuador for six weeks.
High school may now be behind her, but Acacia’s work as a Rotarian is far from over.
This month, Acacia, along with her 15-year-old sister Lauryl, helped the Rotary Club of Scottsdale load a truck full of
John Little donated a case of bottled water at the first-ever One Stop Giving donation drive last Saturday. (John Little/Facebook)
Scottsdale citizens open hearts for needy students
BY KRISTINE CANNON
Progress Staff Writer
Vista Del Camino and Scottsdale United Methodist Church joined efforts to host a no-contact, drive-through donation drive called One Stop Giving at the church June 20.
The drive not only amassed school supplies and bottled water, but also raised about $1,500 in online donations and $400 in cash and gift cards the day of the event.
The money raised will go toward purchasing clothing for students in need.
“Anytime you can help Scottsdale citizens become more aware of programs benefiting less fortunate citizens, I would call that a success,” said Scottsdale Human Services Commissioner Denny Brown, one of the organizers of the One Stop Giving Day donation drive.
Brown said that they collected a “massive amount” of school supplies, including new backpacks and hundreds of bottles of water for Operation Hydration, a water collection drive benefiting the Valley’s homeless population.
“And I cannot forget the phone call from the Charros, indicating they were prepared to offer major assistance,” Brown added. “One phone call from the Charros really helps.”
Scottsdale UMC Reverend Ann Lyter said the One Stop Giving event allowed the church to do two things: continue the work of the congregation in supporting their
$400,000 worth of medical supplies for five hospitals in Sonora, Mexico – the location of one of Scottsdale’s long-time sister cities, Alamos.
“It was really fun and I got to connect with some other Rotarians. It’s always fun to meet Rotarians,” Acacia said.
Members of the Rotary Club of Scottsdale were joined by members of the Club Rotario de Phoenix, Rotary Club of Tempe South and Rotary Club of Prescott, as well as other Rotarians, to pack the 53-foot long SWIFT commercial truck with supplies donated by Tempe-based Project C.U.R.E.
Donated items include hospital beds, examination beds, walkers, crutches and bandages to meet the immediate needs of the COVID crisis.
“This donation of medical supplies, beds, and support equipment is perfectly timed for the immediate needs that have been caused by the COVID 19 crisis,” said Rotarian Dale Gray of the Rotary Club of Scottsdale.
Gray led the project with the support of fellow Rotarians, David Pastor and Max Rumbaugh. “Mexico in general and Sonora specifically have a battle going on and the addition of more beds and supplies will make it better for the hospital and the patients impacted
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community and continue to be a resource to the community by providing a safe location and means for others to help.
“We need to remember that those in our community who need supplies and even something as basic as water still need that support, perhaps more now than ever,” Lyter said.
“We hoped to continue to support our community while maintaining good practices to prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus. It is important for faith communities to work with community organizations like Vista Del Camino to care for our community,” Lyter added.
Brown attributed the drive’s success to word-of-mouth and social media promotion by local organizations such as the Scottsdale Parent Council and Yes to Children.
“Our citizens are ready to help,” Brown said. “As the former SUSD superintendent once said, ‘If you want to raise the bar, you need to raise the floor.’ This activity reflects the Scottsdale level of caring for citizens in need.” by this virus,” Gray said.
Seven Rotary Clubs in Arizona District 5495 and Club Rotarios in Sonora, Mexico donated money to pay for the transportation and cross-border expenses.
Once the medical supplies were loaded, the truck headed straight to Hermosillo Mexico for inspection and acceptance, with supply drop-offs in San Luis Río Colorado, Puerto Peñasco, Ciudad Obregón, Navajoa, and Alamos, which received a used ambulance donated by Phoenix’s American Medical Response.
“Rotarians and medical professionals went and did a survey of the five most needy hospitals in Sonora, and those are going to be the beneficiaries of the trucks that we’re sending down there,” Acacia explained.
A second truck will be loaded with more medical equipment, including surgical equipment, anesthesia machines, incubators and baby warmers, more consumable supplies and more PPE, and shipped off in about two more weeks.
“Our goal, with the Ministry of Health Sonora, is to improve the ability of the hospitals to provide new services locally consistent the Ministry’s goals and training programs,” Gray said.
The Rotary Club of Scottsdale is also working alongside other Clubs to assist the Navajo Tribe with getting water into their
John Little, Scottsdale resident and City Council hopeful, was one of about 25 people at the drive.
“Scottsdale United Methodist Church does such great things for our community and Denny Brown’s dedication to helping children and schools is legendary,” he said, adding:
“Considering those two forces of compassion and knowing a team of volunteers would be working in 107-degree temps, homes.
“[It’s] so critical in proper hygiene for stopping the spread of COVID-19,” Gray said of the Navajo Tribe water project. “This is the third year of this project, and it is funded for over $400,000, involving our District 5495 and multiple clubs.”
The Rotary Club of Scottsdale is also working on a wheelchair project in central Mexico; expanding their multi-year Crutches for Africa to Crutches for Mexico; supporting a water project in South Sudan, as well as Hepatitis prevention in Mongolia; and supporting a recently completed a water project in Nicaragua that provided water to 3,000 people.
“We gave out over $65,000 in scholarships to Scottsdale high school students last week, donated $10,000 to a Food Bank, painted houses of elderly, and other local efforts,” Gray said, noting:. “Our club and our district are very active in helping people in need across the city, state, country, and across the world.”
In the fall, Acacia will pursue a degree in international trade at ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management.
She’ll also join the collegiate-level Rotary club, Rotaract, as well join the state council.
But in the meantime, Acacia will volunteer at least one more time for the Rotary Club of Scottsdale to help load more mediwell, there was just nothing that was going to get in my way of contributing in some small way.”
Those who were unable to attend the drive can still purchase and donate items from nonprofit organization Scottsdale Community Partner’s Amazon wish list.
It includes back-to-school items, like composition notebooks, loose leaf paper, folders, highlighters, backpacks, pencils, erasers as well as essential clothing, like cal supplies to Sonora, an effort that’s especially important to her.
“I had the opportunity to be a youth ambassador to our sister city of Alamos, which is one of the cities that is benefiting from this project,” she said.
“Since I went to Alamos, it was really important to me to be a part of this. That is benefiting people that I came in contact with.”
The Rotary Club of Scottsdale writes “love notes” on the boxes to let the recipients know they’re thinking of them and wish them well, Gray said.
“Rotary’s theme is ‘people of action.’ With this said, we encourage more volunteers to join us in making a difference,” he added.
Acacia also encourages people to join the Rotary Club. “Arizona is definitely a hot-spot for Rotary Clubs. We have one of the strongest Rotary districts in the country,” she said. “There’s just so many opportunities, and there’s a space for everyone to get involved and help.”
“If people want things to change, they have to participate. We can change the way people think by becoming friends in communities,” Gray added. “This is the way out of this crisis. Get involved in something that you are passionate about!”
One Stop Giving, a back-to-school supplies and bottled water donation drive, was held at Scottsdale UMC on June 20. (John Little/Facebook)
Information: scottsdalerotary.org
socks and undergarments.
While school supplies are collected yearround, SCP’s Back to School event, where more than 6,500 low-income SUSD students come to pick up new backpacks filled with school supplies and clothing, takes place July 22.
And Operation Hydration can use water all summer, Brown said.
“This importance of caring for our community cannot be overstated. These are difficult and troubling times,” Lyter said.
“For a child to have the supplies he or she needs for school, for a family to not have to worry about where the money is going to come from for school supplies, especially when the parents may be facing reduced hours, is critically important.”
Donations can be dropped off either at Vista Del Camino or Scottsdale UMC.
“Even though we are not worshipping in person and on campus, church is not closed and the work of the church is more important than ever. We need to remember that need continues,” Lyter said.
