(Millsboro) (September 25, 2020) — The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Birthday Bash came to halt in the face of COVID 19 and restrictions that were placed on day care facilities throughout Delaware. This program is to celebrate the Lives of youngsters who have a birthday at the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club during the month and they receive a $25. Gift card, cupcakes and balloons During the height of the pandemic, the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club was only to serve up to 25 children of first responders, a far cry from the normal attendance of approximately 100 children from the greater Long Neck and Oak Orchard communities. As a result, Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club put its program on hold.
Fast forward to this fall and The Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club is now able to accept up to 70 children, and Long Neck Sunrise Rotarian Cathy Cardaneo was able to drop off the cupcakes,juice boxes, balloons for the celebration as well as the gift cards for the 11 children celebrating birthdays in (what months?). Although Rotary Club members were not able to attend, the staff at the Boys and Girls Club set up the socially distanced party at the facility’s outdoor pavilion and a great time was had by all.
“We can’t thank the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club enough for the wonderful birthday bash items for the kids!“ noted Club Executive Director Erica Kennedy. “They absolutely loved it!”
As part of its mission to change lives in the greater Long Neck community, the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been celebrating children at the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club with regular birthday parties every month from September to May since the fall of 2017. The first celebration was funded by a Rotary District grant, but the program has continued with proceeds from the Club’s annual golf outing at The Peninsula Golf Club.
“Our partnership with the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club is an integral part of our community mission,” remarked Lucille Cavan, President of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club. “It’s wonderful that our club is able to continue supporting the children during these difficult times.”
Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been working to support the youth of the Long Neck region for years. They have worked with the Boys & Girls Club on an annual MLB Pitch, Hit and Run Competition as well as the Birthday Bashes, provided dictionaries annually to the third graders attending Long Neck Elementary School and supported the annual book fair at Long Neck Elementary by supplying two free books to each child at the school.
Pictured above: The birthday celebrants left to right: Brooklyn, Keysha, Ellie, Gracie, Logan, Tyson, Jacoby, Jace, Noah, Kimberly, Lilly