Page 15 - 2021 Impact Report Utah Rotary

BIGGER, BETTER, BOLDER COVID RELIEF 15

“COVID-19 tried its best to define this Rotary year but, in spite of masks and social distancing, clubs in District 5420
found new, innovative and amazingly creative ways to meet, fundraise and provide ‘service above self’ response-to-needs
in the community … so, take that, COVID!”
~ Linda Sappington, Governor
Utah Rotary District 5420 (RY2020-21)
Rotary year 2020-21 kicked off at High Country PETS in Denver, with amazing training ending on March 1, 2020
when enthusiastic club leaders, infused with new ideas and excitement for Rotary and the year ahead, headed home.
Twelve days later, life as we knew it abruptly came to a halt as businesses, churches, theaters, schools … and Rotary clubs
closed, leaving communities considering how to move forward against a unique virus which would ultimately take the
lives of at least 600,000 around the world.

As we began to gain our footing – despite not being able to meet in-person for most of this Rotary year – PDG John
Hanrahan had the foresight to organize a COVID-19 Response team which met regularly to determine the best ways Bigger, Better, Bolder District 5420 Service Impact Report
to support both Rotary clubs and communities-in-need from March until the spring of RY2020-21. Here’s some of the
“service above self” occurring in those 14 months:
• Thankfully, most of our clubs quickly became proficient in online meetings. Many even reported an increase in
attendance and several, using Zoom, found interesting and well-known presenters from around the district, the
country and the world.
• Face masks were produced by the thousands by Rotarians in almost all clubs for distribution to club members,
medical facilities, health care providers and other organizations. Face masks - while never popular or a must-have
fashion statement - soon appeared in a wide variety of colors and branding – including Rotary – as we accepted the
importance of protecting ourselves and those around us and adjusting to our “new normal.”

• More than 6000 face shields were also created by Rotary clubs from one end of the state to the other.
• Food banks in nearly every community were recipients of the generosity of Rotarians who gave both time and money.

• Several of Utah’s tribal communities - disproportionately affected by COVID - received thousands of pounds of
food; cleaning and hygiene supplies; water tanks for those families without running water; clothing donated by a
Southern California Rotary club; and miraculously, received millions of pounds of much-needed firewood following a
hurricane-force windstorm which uprooted more than 1,000 trees in northern Utah.

Thanks to all who pitched in; stepped up; begged, borrowed, collected and transported. Thanks to all who spent countless
hours at sewing machines, who drove from one corner of the state to the other – at their own expense - to deliver vital
supplies and to those who weren’t happy to meet on Zoom but did it anyway (occasionally even in pajamas) because they
are Rotarians through-and-through.

Thanks to our partners, including the State of Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rotary Club
of Monarch Beach Sunrise; 5th West Storage in Bountiful; Andrus Trucking and many, many others. Especially,
THANK YOU to our nearly 1600 members who persevered, found ways to move forward … and stayed with us, despite
everything!