One of the objects of Rotary is to advance international understanding, good and peace.

The Four Peaks Rotary Club supports this goal by sponsoring a project in the neighboring country of Mexico.

In 1999 the club established a relationship with Adonna Cullumber, from Chandler, to help her begin an orphanage in Hermosillo, Mexico.

The facility’s aim is to help children who needed shelter, protection and an atmosphere that would feed, nurture, educate and love children who would not otherwise have a safe environment for development.

Much has happened since 1999, beginning with the membership driving trucks into Mexico with beds, clothing, clothes washer and dryer and anything else that could help with the orphanage’s beginning.

Since then the club has participated on a yearly basis by sending manpower to accomplish physical tasks, Fountain Hills High School Spanish class students accompanying the members to help with linguistics, giving a Buick that is still running, donating a used van to help transport the children as needed and financial support.

Recently club President Bill Beamish and member Pam Carlson (champion of this cause for the club) provided Adonna and her daughter Kim with a $3000 check

The orphanage has gone from nine children to presently housing 39, with an expansion planned to accommodate up to 100 children.

Casa Esperanza Para Ninos is a non-profit institution and a 501(c)3 foundation.

Its list of needed “things” is endless. One can visit its website at www.casaesperanzaparaninos.com for additional information and to possibly help by making a contribution.

Weekender help

In addition, during the same visit, club members learned what another local organization is doing to help feed needy families, particularly over the weekend.

Regina Vernaskas shared her message about Weekender Food Bags for Children project.

Vernaskas is a member of the Matthew Community, a ministry at Church of the Ascension.

This group is dedicated to addressing social and justice issues in an attempt to eliminate hunger to elementary children in Fountain Hills.

Many children are going home to little or no food on the weekend during the school year. In the current unstable economic crisis, more and more community families are facing hard times and their needs are growing.

The Matthew Group prepares food bags every Friday morning and delivers them Friday afternoon to the children at school.

There are presently 33 children being served in two of the Fountain Hills elementary schools.

The School District and the two schools have cooperated with the social concerns group in determining which children are in most need.

The Weekender program is in need of volunteers, food stuffs and monetary support. If you would like to be a part of this project, contact the organization at the parish office at 837-1066.

For more information about the Four Peaks Rotary Club, contact Beamish at (480) 390-4130 or visit the club web site at www.fourpeaksrotary.org.

The club meets the second and fourth Thursday morning at 7 a.m. at the Golf Club at Eagle Mountain.