Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives through its Focus Areas
This month Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives through Rotary Fellowship. Explore the possibilities with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at Wick Park or virtually via Zoom.
One year ago, the Rotary Club of Youngstown completed a Club Health Check survey, authorized by Past-President George Nelson. It's time to revisit the process and see how we are doing. This Wednesday, former club presidents will lead roundtable discussions to provide feedback that we hope will be helpful as Ellie Platt takes over Club Leadership. This meeting is vital to our commitment to continuous improvement. Please join us!!!!
This week’s menu: Bow tie Alla Vodka Sauce, Grilled Chicken on side, Carrots Vichy, Caesar Salad.
Rotary Last Week
Some of Youngstown's most vulnerable residents have found help and hope through the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown. Team members Sheila Donnadio, Avery Hostetter and Whitney Washington summarized core programs of the Ursuline Sisters Mission during RCY's meeting on June 3.
Through Beatitude House, USM operates an emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing for homeless families. Clients are assigned living quarters and receive wraparound services so they can reach and retain safe, affordable housing, Washington said. USM also oruns an AIDS clinic that averages 500 clients per year to "ensure that people are not lost in the margins," Hostetter said. Pantries with food and essential items are found on the city's West and South sides. USM's educational outreach enables immigrants to attend English language classes and work on life skills; underserved college students to earn diplomas; and younger students to receive support and enrichment opportunities. USM has a major fundraiser, the Oktober Vines dinner, wine and beer tasting, coming up Oct. 16 at St. Mary's Assumption Center, 365 S. Belle Vista Ave., Donnadio said.
In other news, Frank Kishel won the weekly 50-50 drawing and the bonus drawing worth more than $500! Congratulations, Frank.
Rotarians took to the water on Saturday with a guided kayaking trip from Struthers to Lowellville. A good time was had by all, with the weather cooperating for the outing.
Rotarian volunteers are needed to help with installing new Little Free Libraries in the community. See President Gerri or Frank Kishel if you can lend a hand.
SAVE THE DATE
President Party for Gerri 6:00pm, June 24th, The Youngstown Country Club, 1402 Country Club Drive, Youngstown, OH 44505
Ignite the Night, 5pm, July 5th, The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheater, 201 S Phelps St, Youngstown, OH 44503
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
The Rotary Club of Youngstown continues to make literacy a priority through its growing Little Free Library project, an initiative that has placed books directly into neighborhoods across the Mahoning Valley. What began as a Centennial Celebration project has grown into an ongoing community effort focused on encouraging reading, sharing books, and building stronger neighborhood connections. There is something magical about these Little Libraries, and the stories of people whose lives have been changed by books they’ve read are heartwarming and inspiring. Planning for the project began during the presidency of Linda Kosta in 2020, when the club partnered with community organizations to build and install 34 Little Free Libraries throughout the Youngstown-Mahoning Valley area. The first library was dedicated at the Central YMCA and marked the beginning of what has become one of the club’s most visible literacy initiatives. Partners in the effort have included Ace Lumber, the City of Youngstown Parks & Recreation Department, SMARTS—Students Motivated by the Arts, The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, and the Central YMCA.
Today, Rotary members help oversee more than 50 Little Free Libraries. Before a library is gifted to the community, the club requires each location to have a dedicated steward responsible for monitoring the library and helping keep it stocked with books. Rotary members also collect and store donated books to support stewards when supplies run low.
In order for the project to continue to grow, the club is seeking additional volunteers to assist with installations and ongoing maintenance. Members with carpentry or handyman skills are especially needed to help repair and maintain the libraries. The Little Free Library project remains a meaningful example of Rotary’s commitment to literacy, service, and community engagement.
Thank you to our Little Free Library team who have been so busy organizing and distributing books across all the Little Free Libraries under our steward over the past few weeks. The Little Free Library committee has plans to meet over this summer so please reach out to Sharon Stringer, Elazyne Bozick, or Jessica Romeo if you would like to be of service to this committee.
From Playing Fields to Pollinator Fields
A school athletic complex in Nebraska is showing how community partnerships can create lasting environmental impact. At Douglas County West School in Valley, an underused 20.5-acre area surrounding the new athletic complex has been transformed into a vibrant pollinator habitat designed to support monarch butterflies and other wildlife.
What began as land planned for routine mowing became an opportunity for restoration through collaboration between the Monarch Joint Venture, school leaders, conservation organizations, and local volunteers. After site preparation in late 2025, dormant seeding was completed in January using a custom mix of more than 100 native plant species. The habitat includes native wildflowers that bloom throughout the season and five species of milkweed—the essential host plant for monarch butterflies.
Students and community volunteers helped bring the project to life by planting hundreds of additional native plants and shrubs this spring. Even in its first growing season, monarch eggs, caterpillars, and adult butterflies have already been observed using the site.
Projects like this demonstrate that schools and public spaces can become living classrooms while improving biodiversity, soil health, water quality, and community stewardship. Sometimes, a little unused space can become something extraordinary.
