By David Wesley
Most of us around the holiday tables served ourselves an extra helping and are now in the new year having second thoughts about that (maybe). It depends on our goals for the new year. Helpings are very welcome though, with no reservations, when we talk about a helping hand. According to Webster’s Dictionary the phrase was first known to be used in the 15th century. Then as now, people need a helping hand and they always will. There is an RCC group (Rotary Community Corps) serving our community with helping hands by making our Veterans at the Sims Veterans Home feel appreciated on each holiday; making our beach look better by participating in beach clean ups; helping the homeless by creating backpacks of needed supplies; and weaving mats for them to sleep on. Special Ops is the local RCC sponsored by The Rotary Club of the Emerald Coast. This is a group of non-Rotarians sharing the Rotary commitment of changing the world through service projects.
RCC members plan and carry out projects in their communities and support local Rotary club projects. Special Ops was created to bring the principle of Service Above Self to adults with special needs which provides the opportunity for its members to be the SERVERS, not the SERVED. Currently the 15 members meet twice a month to plan and implement projects. This month Special Ops worked on and delivered goodies they baked and decorated along with handmade cards for Valentine’s Day to Sims Veterans Home. Last October they delivered Halloween door decorations. The Special Ops members will continue all year long to serve and be a helping hand at Sims and around our community. They bring the talents and energy they have to help serve. They understand and are the embodiment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s insightful reminder that:
“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.”
Special Ops members must be 18 or older and be a person of good character. Anyone can join, but programming and activities are focused on providing adults with special needs the opportunity to respond to the Rotary call of Service Above Self while enjoying being together.
Join them at 11 a.m on Saturday, April 2, for the opportunity to support Special Ops as they assist The Rotary Club of the Emerald Coast in the sponsorship of a benefit for Rotary Youth Camp. A Break-a-Thon is being coordinated and hosted by Senior Chief martial arts instructor Richard Higgins, owner of American Martial Arts, Inc. located on Allison Ave in PCB. Students will find sponsors to pledge a donation for every board broken by the sponsored student in a one-hour time frame. Money raised will be donated to the Rotary Youth Camp, a free overnight camp for children with disabilities. For more information about The Rotary Club of the Emerald Coast, Special Ops, the Break-a-Thon, or Rotary Youth Camp contact: ecrotarypcb@gmail.com.
