Byesville Rotary celebrates World Polio Day

On October 24, Rotary clubs all over the world will celebrate World Polio Day. To mark the event, Byesville Rotary is hosting two events.

Join Byesville Rotary at their Pints for Polio celebration being held at the Wagon Wheel Bar and Grill in Buffalo on Wednesday, October 2, at 5:00. “Pints for Polio is a party with a purpose,” said Melinda Yerian, chair of the event. “Participants will join Bill and Melinda Gates, Rotary International, members of the Byesville Rotary Club, and the Wagon Wheel staff in eliminating polio from the world.”

A $5.00 donation buys an exclusive Pints for Polio mug which The Wagon Wheel is going to fill with the beverage of your choice for free. The Wagon Wheel will donate $1 to Polio eradication for each additional drink purchased. Each one of those dollars will be matched 2 to 1 by Bill and Melinda Gates. Your $5 donation turns into $15 to help eradicate Polio! You can also have an opportunity to win the 50/50 being held by the Byesville Rotary.

The second event is the “Pennies for Polio Challenge.” This is the second year Byesville and Cambridge Rotaries will be holding this contest. The clubs are using the challenge to raise monies to fight polio by seeing which club can raise the most pennies by getting supporters of Meadowbrook and Cambridge high schools to donate pennies to the Rotary International project to eliminate polio. Support your school by donating pennies (translation—help Byesville Rotary support Meadowbrook).

Last year, Byesville Rotary/Meadowbrook won the challenge. Rhonda Stemmer, Byesville Rotary 2018 president, accepted the trophy at the annual Bobcat/Colt football game. Byesville Rotary expects the competition to be harder fought this year.

Penny donations are being accepted at the Rolling Hills Schools and at the Guernsey County DD.  Watch for collections jars to appear at other locations.

Why do Rotary members care about eliminating polio? Why should you care? Polio is highly contagious and is spread from person to person. It attacks the nervous system and causes paralysis or death. It mainly affects kids under 5. There is no cure—but a vaccine can prevent it kids or adults being crippled and put in wheelchairs, braces or crutches.

Since 1988, when Rotary and its partners began this fight, cases have been reduced by 99.9%. We could quit the fight now, but if we do not eliminate the disease, an estimated 200,000 cases could reoccur every year. We no longer give our kids the vaccine because they U. S. has eliminated polio. Without the vaccine, our kids and grandkids could be at risk. We need to finish the fight and eliminate the disease.

Connect with #ByesvilleRotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com , Twitter Byesville_Club, or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283. The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s meeting. #6690

Byesville Rotary hears about homelessness in Guernsey County

Pictured: Bob Hollins, Pastor Freedom Fellowship and co-founder Freedom House, and Shana Fair, Byesville Rotary President.

Byesville Rotary invited Bob Hollins, pastor at Freedom Fellowship and co-founder of Freedom House, to speak about how he and Freedom Fellowship help people get back on their feet and find homes.

In 2017, Hollins and his wife witnessed an incident making them acutely aware of the homeless in Guernsey County. They wanted to do something. Their church, located in the old Lincoln Elementary, was not using all of the building. Hollins and his wife were inspired to establish a shelter.

Hollins stated that the original goal was to provide warmth and safety for the night. Since only the hall in the unused wing of the school was heated, people slept on air mattresses in the hallway.

Hollins stated that in 2018, the old classrooms in Lincoln Elementary were turned into a proper shelter. Heating was installed; windows replaced; beds added. Currently, the shelter has a dorm for women and one for men, a communal kitchen, a gathering room, an apartment and an intake office. One room is reserved for families.

Hollins stated goals have changed from providing just a warm night’s shelter to breaking the cycle of homelessness. Hollins initiated a “90-day program.” To be a part of the program, participants must be Guernsey County residents and agree to abide by rules which they sign off on. If an individual breaks a rule, he/she will be asked to leave. The program guarantees beds to people for 90 days. During that time, they must try to get a job and find a place to live. Participants must not use alcohol or drugs and agree to allow their areas be searched if necessary. Additionally, on Sunday, residents must attend church—they can join the members of the Freedom Fellowship in worship or attend the church of their choice.

Hollins will extend the 90-day program as long as the individual is actively trying to get a job and find a home. Finding affordable housing in Guernsey County is difficult and can take more than 90 days even after a person gets a job.

Currently, Hollins has 11 people in the program. Freedom House is closed to the residents from 10:00 am until 2:00pm. Hollins believes that his residents need to be out in the community—working at their jobs, looking for a job, or just interacting with other people.

Freedom House is a faith-based effort. Services are supported by individual donations and help from local churches and organizations. Hollins stated the next big project is a new roof. When asked what kinds donated items he accepts, Hollins answered—individual, meals that can be warmed up quickly in the micro-wave or oven.