Leavenworth Rotary contributes to L.A. wildfire relief

LEAVENWORTH – The Rotary Club of Leavenworth has contributed $7,895 to the Los Angeles Rotary District's fire relief fund.

“We got it there pretty quickly…Typically, disasters need urgent money right away, and it takes bureaucracies a long time to move, but I was proud our little club moved pretty fast on that,” said Leavenworth Rotarian Mike Worden.

The contribution comes as Los Angeles had over 37,700 acres burn during the Palisades and Eaton fires in January, followed by February floods, according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. When Leavenworth Rotary’s district governor Tom Tochterman coordinated with the L.A. Rotary district, the Leavenworth club was quick to allocate the remainder of this year’s project fund, in addition to personal contributions from members.

“One of the things about being a Rotarian [is that] wherever you go in the world, you're going to find Rotary Clubs, and you're always welcome with open arms. So, it's like a network that's worldwide…We didn't have to know anybody personally,” said Worden.

The motion to assist with wildfire disaster relief is not new to Leavenworth Rotary. A decade ago, the club contributed $9,600 to support communities affected by the fires that devastated Okanogan County. 

Leavenworth Rotary is one of over 45,000 service clubs all over the globe that make up Rotary International. The clubs, which belong to regional districts, often work together to support local, regional, national, and international initiatives.

Locally, Rotary Club of Leavenworth has contributed to community improvements such as purchasing a van for Upper Valley MEND’s gleaning program in 2016, building an outdoor classroom for Wenatchee River Institute in 2022, and purchasing a stove and cabinet for the Senior Center in 2023.

Beyond Leavenworth, the club has sent units for processing clean water in Haiti and Guatemala, provided solar power for communities in Rwanda and Uganda, and sent a shelter box to Turkey in the aftermath of its 2023 earthquake.

When the fires struck Los Angeles, the area’s Rotary district, District 5280, set up a fund to support first responders and fire victims, set up housing support, and compiled a list of volunteer opportunities, which garnered support throughout the Rotary International network.

“As we continue to adapt and respond to the aftermath, I’ve heard deeply moving stories from fellow Rotarians who, despite losing their homes, have found strength and hope through the outpouring of support from Rotarians worldwide,” wrote District 5280 Governor Albert Hernandez in a letter to Rotarians earlier this month.

With the support of other Rotaries, the district has been able to support local organizations on the frontlines providing shelter, distribute grocery store gift cards, fund community distribution events for essential supplies, and provide gift cards to firefighters. After addressing immediate needs, the district has a plan of addressing intermediate needs such as community recovery efforts and stabilizing affected families, then assisting with the rebuilding of infrastructure and restoring communities.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media