On Thursday, 21 December, Rotary Club of Flatonia collected food items and donated two Christmas baskets. Each donation was a laundry basket plus 3 bags of food for Christmas and beyond.
One donation went to James and Kathy Fox, who had their house and most of their belongings in Hostyn burn down on Thursday, 14 December, 11 days before Christmas. Their two dogs perished in the fire, while they were at work. They have no insurance. Many friends and community members have come forward and helped them. The other donation went to the manager of the Flatonia RV Park who distributed the food to 5 families.
Flatonia Rotary President, Pat Satterwhite remarked “Hunger exists in Flatonia and we recognize the need. Our members were very generous with their donations of food and I would like to thank them for their generosity during the Christmas season. We were humbled by the Foxes experience and were happy that we could help in this small way.
On Sunday, 26 November Rotarians, Stu Mica, Bernie Satterwhite, and Pat Satterwhite selected, purchased, and set up the City of Flatonia Christmas Tree in the park next to the Gazebo. On Monday, 27 November, Rotarians, Larry Haas, Bernie Satterwhite, Kristine Schaffner, and Pat Satterwhite decorated the tree with lights and oranaments. The FISD Art students contributed by making special ornaments for the tree. Everything was done in time for the lighting of the Christmas Village and the arrival of Santa Claus on Wednesday, 29 November.
At the Flatonia Rotary meeting on 16 November, the guest speaker, LaDonna Boyd, the Regional Director for Bluebonnet Trails Community Services, gave a presentation on the vast services that Bluebonnet performs for 8+ counties. She provided pamphlets and rack cards for the club to share at the Fall For Flatonia event on the 18th.
On Saturday, 18 November 2023, The Flatonia Rotary Club had a booth at Flatonia's 150th celebration, Fall for Flatonia. Information about the Flatonia Rotary Club and Mental Health Awareness was shared to all those who attended. Giving out free popcorn as a fun bonus! It was a beautiful day for sharing and fellowship in the sun.
"We wanted to show our appreciation for everything that our responders do on a daily basis to keep our community safe, yet maintaining the highest of ethical standards”, commented Flatonia Rotary President Pat Satterwhite.
The morning was spent planting butterfly gardens in the Center’s planter boxes, which Flatonia Rotary built and donated several years ago. Lions, Rotarians, residents and staff all dug in to plant the buttterfly-friendly plants and then all shared a chili hotdog and ice cream lunch. The outdoor temperatures were a little cooler, the 50’s and 60’s music was a blast from the past, and the coming together with friends and Flatonians made for a very special Celebrate Community Day.
On Saturday, 15 April 2023 the Rotary Club of Flatonia partnered with Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter of La Grange for a fun service event. GJAS brought 8 dogs to Flatonia to meet and greet prospective families for adoption. It was a beautiful day and everyone, including the dogs, enjoyed being outdoors and socializing. Rotary Club of Flatonia also donated 8 bags of dog food to the Shelter.
At PETS! PETS! PETS! There were opportunities to visit with dogs of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Families were able to pet them, hold them, and talk to them, in a fun, roundtable forum designed to get future owners and pets aquainted before adopting. Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter (GJAS), a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, has been serving Fayette County since 1994. GJAS takes in, on average, 1,400 dogs and cats annually, many of whom are stray, abandoned, and neglected. The staff and volunteers work tirelessly to enrich the lives of those in their care, until they can find a new loving, forever home. Teresa Stanley Brown, Director of GJAS and Flatonia Rotary we are already looking forward to next year's meet and greet
Service Above Self
Flatonia, TX 78941
United States of America