Following the very successful lead of Houghton Lake Rotary over the last few years, Muskegon Rotary partnered with its five Rotary Interact clubs early this summer and fall to collect returnables that each club could cash in for building their fund balances to start the school year.
Since normal fundraising venues have been compromised for most all Rotary Interact clubs due to the Covid pandemic, with the solid help of Meijer, Inc. and using proper distancing, face masks, and hand washing, Interactors were able to safely cash in nearly $3000 in returnables as of this writing.
Rotarians and friends and local businesses contributed and helped to store the accumulating bags of bottles and cans. Bottles and cans were either picked up by Rotary volunteers or were dropped off at one of two volunteer sites. Working with all five clubs, Rotarians transported trailer and van loads to Meijer stores at various times to be unloaded and cashed in by Interactors who assembled in the parking lot.
New Rotarian, Blake Cramer, an employee of Morgan Stanley Muskegon Branch, helped to spearhead the effort and also engineered a 25 per cent rebate offer challenge to each club from his employer which was a great incentive to get motivated. An additional approximate $750 rebate will now be split among the five Interact clubs, so each of the five Rotary Interact clubs will have needed funds to help support their chosen service projects.
Rotarians and friends have now grown accustomed to saving their returnables for our Rotary sponsored Interact Clubs. By continuing this partner project, Muskegon Rotary is better able to stay in touch with our Rotary Interactors throughout the Covid year. It is so nice to be able to assure each person who donates returnables that these funds will be plowed back into the community and the world through Rotary Interact clubs and the great work they are doing.
Please contact John Noling at 231 670 3740 or Blake Cramer at 231 557 9992 for more information.