Celebrating After Successful Breakfast with the Bunny Event

Burgerfest Car Show

Farm to Family Founder is Awarded Empire Award

Rotary Member Earl Knauss Publishes The Ugly Vegetables

Read the inspiring story of how one man's vision to feed families in need started with 3 bushels of "ugly" red peppers. These "ugly" peppers could not be sold by the farmers but were perfectly good otherwise. This made him consider all the other vegetables the local farmers could not sell. This vision resulted in a volunteer-based program called Farm to Family which operates 6 days a week during the growing season. Read about how this 18-year program started with these three bushels of ugly red peppers but grew and grew! This year Farm to Family delivered nearly 200,000 pounds of vegetables. These vegetables feed 3000-4000 families weekly. Order your book at Amazon or consider a donation to this worthy project. All donations and proceeds from the book go to The Rotary Club of Hamburg to help support this project.

Community Helping to Keep Children Warm This Winter

Although Western New York enjoyed beautiful, autumn weather, cold temperatures, snow and ice are now in the forecast. This fall, more than 500 youngsters are prepared for the cold weather.

As temperatures dip, youngsters participating in this year’s Warm the Children program have winter jackets, warm hats, gloves and cuddly pajamas, courtesy of caring individuals, organizations and local foundations, which have made generous contributions to this year’s Warm the Children program. “For a single dad dealing with cancer, he is relieved that his two children have the warm clothes they need for winter,” notes Elizabeth Angelbeck, who coordinates the program for Rotary each fall. For many children, selecting new clothing helps them feel that they fit in, adds Angelbeck.

Over 85 community volunteer shoppers, who accompany families to Walmart, share stories of gratefulness on the part of parents, grandparents and even great grandparents, after they’ve shopped for their children. “I am so blessed to be a part of this wonderful program,” expressed a Hamburg grandmother, who is helping raise her grandchildren.

Warm the Children is the grateful beneficiary of donations from East Hill Foundation, Hamburg & Frontier Central Retirees Associations; Alice L. Say Foundation, West Herr Auto Group, along with other community organizations and caring individuals. Warm the Children truly kicks off the season of giving!

Tax deductible donations are still being accepted. Giving levels include: Joyful Benefactor ($500 or higher); Caring Supporter ($200-$499); Special Friend ($100-$199). However, donations in ANY amount are greatly appreciated! Those wishing to contribute may do so by making checks payable to Warm the Children Fund, and either mailing or bringing donations to EBT Bank, 5999 S. Park Avenue, Hamburg, NY 14075. Or, contributions may be made online at www.hamburgrotaryclub.org/SitePage/warm-the-children.

Speakers from UB Heals are Presented with Socks and Toothbrush Donations

The Rotary Club of Hamburg hosted speakers from UB Heals at its Oct.21 meeting and supported the initiative with a donation of four large bags of heavy winter socks and one bag packed with toothbrushes to aid the vulnerable population of unhoused Western New Yorkers the organization serves. Maya Zalewski, program manager and David Cazares, assistant program manager provided information about UB Heals, a street medicine outreach initiative of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University at Buffalo. Zalewski and Cazares are medical students who also actively participate with other members of the team in weekly rounds at shelters and outdoors locations to provide medical attention to men, women and children. They also distribute clothing and hygiene supplies while treating patients. The organization accepts donations from the public such as T-shirts, socks, sweatshirts, jeans, underwear, hats, gloves and seasonal jackets. To learn more about UB Heals, visit https://www.ubheals.org. Zalewski and Cazares are pictured above at Uncle Joe’s Diner in Hamburg where the Rotary Club meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

Rotary Club of Hamburg Kicks Off 2025 Warm the Children Program

EVERY DOLLAR DONATED BUYS WARM CLOTHES FOR CHILDREN IN NEED.

Each fall, Rotary Club of Hamburg is proud to sponsor Warm the Children, a program which assists families in need throughout the Southtowns, before the cold winter sets in.

“Most of us know how to handle brutal WNY winter weather,” says Elizabeth Angelbeck, coordinator of Warm the Children for Rotary Club of Hamburg. “For many families, soaring heating costs, as well as the high cost of groceries and rent prevent them from being able to purchase new, warm winter clothing for their youngsters.” Last year, Warm the Children provided a record 563 children with new, winter clothes.

100% of all contributions go toward the purchase of new clothing for children in need and is fully tax deductible. All administrative costs are absorbed by Rotary, while Club members are responsible for program coordination, with assistance from NBT Bank and community volunteers, who meet families at Walmart in Hamburg to select their clothing.

Last month, Rotary Club of Hamburg was honored to accept the program’s original logo artwork, created by famed presidential portrait artist, Herbert Abrams, whose paintings of George and Barbara Bush and Jimmy Carter hang in the White House. The artwork was donated to Hamburg Rotary by Warm the Children founder, Mack Stewart, just prior to his death last February. “The framed artwork, along with a dedication plaque and Warm the Children poster now hang in the Hamburg Town Library’s children’s section as a reminder of what a community like Hamburg can do to help its children,” says Angelbeck.

Early, generous support from West Herr Automotive Group, Frontier Central Retired Employees Association and Orchard Park Presbyterian Church is greatly appreciated. “We want to encourage those who wish to contribute to Warm the Children to do so as early as possible, so we may send as many families to Walmart as we can, before the snow begins to fall,” explains Angelbeck.

Those wishing to contribute may do so by making checks payable to Warm the Children Fund, and either mailing or bringing donations to NBT Bank, 5999 S. Park Avenue, Hamburg, NY 14075. Or, contributions may be made online at www.hamburgrotaryclub.org/SitePage/warm-the-children.

Club Makes Blankets For ECMC

The Rotary Club of Hamburg once again made "no sew" blankets for the Erie County Medical Center Palliative Care Program. The cozy, warm blankets are bound in two layers of beautiful, soft designs that are tied together by fringes all around. Pictured (TOP) at the hospital presentation are Hamburg Rotarians Barbara Stanley and Dale Stanley, with Hannah Hasfurter, RN, left, and Tara Gregiore, Nurse Manager, right. The club has provided blankets regularly as one of its projects. The Rotary Club of Hamburg was assisted in assembling blankets for Palliative Care patients by volunteers from the community and from the Town of Hamburg Youth Engaged in Service (YES) Program led by Corrie Hall. Thanks to the Hamburg Moose Lodge 992 for the use of their hall which makes the job much easier!

Join us at our Annual Shredding Event

Join us at our annual Shredding Event on May 17th from 9am - noon. We will once again be located at the Northwest Bank parking lot at 5751 Southpark Avenue, Hamburg. This event is perfect for small business owners and families but open to all. Lincoln Archives assure all documents will be securely shredded. Those who want to watch their records be shredded are welcomed to do so. You do not need to unload your boxes, just pull up and someone will unload them for you! Click here for additional information and prices.

Club Provides Meals at Ronald McDonald House

The Rotary Club of Hamburg once again provided meals for the Buffalo Ronald McDonald House on April 25. The club supported the endeavor by purchasing the groceries and ingredients for the meals prepared at the Ronald McDonald House at 780 West Ferry St., Buffalo by Rotarian Colleen Gibbons, guest Hamburg Chef Jeff Giovino, along with Chef Krista Van Wagner. Rounding out the team was Global Concepts Charter School Culinary student Selena Peña, who assisted in preparing the meal for the families of hospitalized children. Van Wagner is a former restaurant owner and heads the Culinary Department at Global Concepts. The meal prepared by the Rotarian group had a Mexican flavor under the leadership of Giovino, owner of Hamburg’s Coyote Café. The menu featured chicken enchiladas, rice and beans and Mexican bread pudding. The Ronald McDonald House provides the comforts of home for the families of young patients undergoing treatment at Oishei Children's Hospital of Buffalo. The Ronald McDonald House recently marked its 40th anniversary and is staffed with full-time and part-time employees. Pictured from left are Jeff Giovino, Krista Van Wagner, Colleen Gibbons and Selena Peña.

Warm the Children Program Kicks Off with Generous Donation

The Rotary Club of Hamburg kicked off its 2024 Warm the Children Program with a volunteer appreciation breakfast on Sept. 21 at Michael’s Banquet Facility, but more than food was on the menu. Along with the presentation of a $10,000 check from West Herr Automotive Group and honoring the 75-plus volunteer shoppers, Warm the Children Coordinator Liz Angelbeck also acknowledged two former editors of The Sun who were instrumental in the initiation and continuation of the program in Hamburg.

Vice President of Fixed Operations Jay Galligan presented the check to Warm the Children Coordinator and Rotarian, Liz Angelbeck who thanked him along with Rhonda Frederick, Director of Giving & Community Support, both of West Herr Automotive Group for the company’s dedicated support of the Rotary Club of Hamburg and its programs.

Club Provides Meals at Ronald McDonald House

The Rotary Club of Hamburg provided meals for families staying at the Buffalo Ronald McDonald House on Oct. 26. The club supported the endeavor by purchasing the groceries and ingredients for the meals prepared at the Ronald McDonald House at 780 West Ferry St.

Rotarians Colleen Gibbons and Eileen Hotho along with Krista Van Wagner, culinary instructor at Global Concepts Charter School and her student Selena Peña prepared the meal. Van Wagner is a well-known local chef and former longtime owner of Curly’s Restaurant. The Rotarian group prepared chicken Françoise, boulangère potatoes, crisp buttery carrots and apple cake for dessert.

The Ronald McDonald House provides the comforts of home for the families of young patients undergoing treatment at Oishei Children's Hospital of Buffalo. The Ronald McDonald House is celebrating its 40th anniversary and is staffed with full-time and part-time employees. Volunteers provide the dinners through the Meal Makers/Comfort Club at the house.

Photos from left: Krista Van Wagner, Colleen Gibbons and Selena Peña.

Farm to Family Program Continues Delivering Food to Local Pantries

Our Farm to Family program works with over 20 sites and so far in 2023 has delivered over 120,000 pounds of food. The program was started by our member Earl Knauss. He has taken this program from concept to the current state of success. Food donations are continuing through

November.

Would you like to help support Farm to Family?

Community Helps Keep Children Warm this Winter

The Rotary Club of Hamburg is sponsoring its 16th Annual Warm the Children Program. Although Western New York has enjoyed mild autumn weather, cold temperatures, snow and ice are sure to greet us in the coming weeks, especially based on last year’s historic snowstorms!

Over 480 youngsters are ready for the cold weather, some experiencing winter for the very first time. “As temperatures dip and snow falls, families participating in this year’s Warm the Children program have winter jackets, warm hats, gloves and cuddly pajamas, courtesy of caring individuals, organizations and local foundations, which have made generous contributions to this year’s Warm the Children program,” explains Elizabeth Angelbeck, who coordinates the program for Rotary Club of Hamburg each year.

Over 75 community volunteer shoppers, who accompany families to Walmart, share stories of gratefulness on the part of parents, grandparents and even great grandparents, after they’ve selected new, warm clothing for their children. Warm the Children is the grateful beneficiary of donations from Hamburg & Frontier Central Retirees Associations, Alice L. Say Foundation, Dreamcatcher Foundation, Louise K Mokadam Family Foundation, East Hill Foundation along with other community organizations and caring individuals. Warm the Children truly kicks off the season of giving.

Tax deductible donations are still being accepted. Giving levels include Joyful Benefactor ($500 or higher); Caring Supporter ($200-$499); Special Friend ($100-$199). However, donations in ANY amount are greatly appreciated! Those wishing to contribute may do so by making checks payable to Warm the Children Fund, and either mailing or bringing donations to Evans Bank, 5999 S. Park Avenue, Hamburg, NY 14075. Or, contributions may be made online at www.hamburgrotaryclub.org/SitePage/warm-the-children.

District Governor Scott Marcin Visits Club

District Governor Scott Marcin attended The Rotary Club of Hamburg's November 7th meeting at Uncle Joes Diner on Southwestern Blvd. He will visit each club in District 7090 during his year as Governor.

Timothy Staube Inducted as President

The Rotary Club of Hamburg honored its new president, Tim Staube for the 2023-2024 year that begins July 1 during its annual picnic at the Taylor Road Cabin on June 20th. Presiding over the ceremonies were Outgoing President Diana Staube, longtime Rotarian Tom Johnston and Hamburg resident Scott Marcin, a member of the Amherst South Rotary Club who was just days away from assuming leadership of Rotary District 7090, a sprawling international district comprising Southern Ontario and Western New York and the Rotary Club of Hamburg among the 75 Rotary Clubs comprising the district.

New Member Maureen O'Brien Inducted

District 7090 Governor Scott Marcin inducts new member Maureen O'Brien to the Rotary Club of Hamburg. Welcome Maureen!

Club Recognizes Members for Service and Longevity

Outgoing Club President Diana Staube and District Governor Scott Marcin recognized three members for their service and longevity with the club. Earl Knauss 48 years, Tom Johnston 46 years and Dave Woolley 45 years.

Paul Harris Recognition of Club Members

The club recognized Tim Hoelscher and Lisa Avery as Paul Harris Award recipients at the club's annual officer's changeover event. This achievement is named after the founder of Rotary in Chicago in 1905 and was awarded by District 7090 Governor, Scott Marcin.

Rotary Club of Hamburg attends District 7090 Conference at NCCC

The Rotary Club of Hamburg enjoyed meeting fellow Rotarians from area clubs in Western New York and Southern Ontario at the 2023 Rotary District 7090 Conference at Niagara County Community College on April 15. The occasion marked the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that the district was able to meet in three years and passings were noted for members who are no longer with us. Attendees learned of new developments, shared knowledge and skills and enjoyed fellowship during the event. Pictured are from left: Brandi Reed, a former Hamburg Club member and current member of the Lockport Club; President Diana Straube, Lisa Avery, Wendy Hvisdak, Michele Hanley, Eileen Hotho and President-elect Tim Straube. Lisa Avery also presented information on the Paul Harris Foundation.