In Watertown, South Dakota on February 12 Amanda W. the founder of Rachel’s Hope came and spoke to Rotary as the program. Amanda has a sister who is in very poor health. She wanted to make something that would honor her sister when that time may come and the generous, kind spirit she holds.
When Amanda first spoke to us, she had only served 59 households that year (September 2024), but as of end of December 2025 Rachel’s Hope had served 1,222 households with 31,105 items. The program chair (Laura) ask Amanda to come and speak and how Rotary could volunteer with her Nonprofit in the future. The club president (Paula) thought that there should be a collection of items and donations which was put in the prod a week before. A week before Laura volunteered to pack items and met regular volunteers who explained they needed basic items for their space that Amanda may not ask for help with. Laura went to pickup those items the same day (a garbage can, vacuum, and extension cord).
One week later on the day Amanda was coming to present Laura volunteer to pack with a newer volunteer and stayed late to assemble toilet brushes for regulars, stocked shelves with items and clean room with new vaccum. Friday her and her mom a non-Rotarian delivered boxes packed. Thursday after Amanda presented, Rotarians helped carry out items to her car and gave her cash donations. Paula let Amanda know of a group she is involved with outside of rotary that could assist her nonprofit with donations too. What started as a simple ask to help fill a program slot easily turned into the most well executed and quickest service project our club has done this year.