Thank-you to our Rotary Foundation & PolioPlus Chair and Hub Lt. Governor, Lucy Cadenas, for her insightful presentation to our club on November 14, updating us on important developments from District 5930, and our Rotary “Hub.” Her leadership, with District Governor Elaine Hernandez, she is helping guide this year’s vision for increased impact, reach, and engagement through our Foundation. 

As we celebrate Rotary Foundation Month, Lucy’s message serves as a powerful reminder of why the Foundation is so central to Rotary’s mission — she illustrated how district-level strategy and generosity fuel our ability to serve locally and globally. 

We also want to shine a well-deserved spotlight on a creative and fun, yet deeply meaningful fundraiser led by President Samantha Santillana and the Interact Club at Harlingen High School South. Under the guidance of our Youth Services Chair, Jennifer Allen, and their sponsor Mirna Garcia, the students came up with their own version of “pigs in a blanket” to “Kiss the Pig” for Polio, raising awareness and about $206 for the fight to eradicate polio. Their creativity culminated in a playful twist: at their final pep rally of the year, an administrator actually kissed a pig! It was lighthearted, fun, and all for a very worthwhile cause.

Thank you, Jennifer, Samantha, Mirna, and the entire Interact team, for your energy and commitment to this important Rotary cause.

Let’s celebrate these efforts from our Hub to our youth as living proof of how service, imagination, and community spirit come together during Rotary Foundation Month.

This Friday the 21st, our program will feature the presentation of our club’s three-year vision that will guide our service, membership, and community impact through 2028. Rotarians who took part in the July workshop will share the priorities we set and the direction we committed to together. This is a chance to see how the ideas shaped in that session translate into a practical roadmap. Your presence will help carry this work forward.

🦃 Thanksgiving Meal Project – We Need Your Help

The Harlingen Mayor’s Council on Food Insecurity has asked our club to take on a simple but meaningful challenge. They will supply the turkeys, we provide the rest of the Thanksgiving meal for families who need a hand this season. This is an opportunity for us to show what Service Above Self looks like in a very real way.

Every donated item matters. Members can donate a full meal kit or individual items such as
🥫 Green beans
🥫 Corn
🍒 Cranberry sauce
🍞 Stuffing
🥔 Mashed potatoes
🥫 Gravy
🌽 Corn bread mix
🍰 Dessert

📦 Drop-off: Friday, November 21
🕗 Time: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
📍 Location: United Way of NCC, 320 E Harrison Avenue
📞 Contact: Jennifer Allen, (956) 535-0548

💰 Prefer to make a monetary donation instead? You can give securely online:
🔗 https://square.link/u/PZN6kEyR

Checks are also welcome, payable to Rotary Club of Harlingen. Please note Thanksgiving Meals in the memo line.

Families in our community deserve the warmth of a holiday meal and the comfort of knowing their neighbors care. If each of us gives a little, together we will deliver a lot. Thank you for stepping up and helping make Thanksgiving brighter for someone else.

🎄 Holiday Magic Shopping Spree for HCISD

Join us for our annual Holiday Magic event as we help local students enjoy a special holiday shopping experience. It is a meaningful way to give back, support families in our community, and share the spirit of Rotary.

📅 Saturday, December 13
⏰ 7:00 AM
📍 Target on Dixieland in Harlingen
✅ Volunteers must be registered with HCISD for the fall semester.
To register, scan the QR code on the event flyer and follow the steps provided.

This event is one of the most heartwarming days of the year. Volunteers guide students as they shop for clothing, shoes, and gifts. Every smile is worth it.

“Believe in the magic of Rotary.”