Deb Dunkhase was the speaker for the Sept 24 meeting. She talked about the mission, projects and activities of Open Heartland.
Announcements
 
William F. "Bill" Tubbs, long time member of the North Scott Rotary Club and past District Governor, has passed away.  His visitation will be Friday, Sept 27 at Eldridge United Methodist Church from 3-7 pm.  The service will be 11 am on Sept 28 at the Fine Arts Center at the North Scott High School in Eldridge.
 
Thank you to all who attended and participated in the Fireside Chat.
 
Mark your calendars for the next several can sorting dates: Tuesday Oct 8, Tuesday Oct 29, Saturday Nov 16, Saturday December 14, and Saturday January 11. 
 
The annual Polio Plus event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 24 at the Midwestone Penthouse from 5:30 to 6:45 pm.  Appetizers will be served.  Bring a bottle of wine or other beverage to share. The speaker will be Ross Taylor, a polio survivor.
 
Speaker
 
Deb Dunkhase shared the story of Open Heartland.  It started the summer of 2019 when the Children's Museum held their boxcar races event and Deb Dunkhase and other members of the Museum staff got to know many of the kids who participated.  They noticed that many were from the migrant community and were without many of the necessities that most of us take for granted.  Open Heartland was started to provide food, clothing and school supplies to migrant children.  In the fall of 2019 Open Heartland distributed warm coats and back packs filled with school supplies to immigrant children.  The families of these children generally do not have work benefits and yet no one wants to see children in these communities suffer.  The crises for kids in this community multiplied when Covid hit and Open Heartland responded by opening The Nest, a learning resource center that children and their parents could use to continue online learning while schools were closed.
 
Open Heartland's leadership team includes a group of 10-15 Latinx community members who determine the services needed by the families in this community.  They also have formed close relationships with other non-profits, including Table to Table, HACAP and Grow Johnson County, all of which help supply fresh vegetables and other groceries to Open Heartland families.  Many of the Rotary members in this area have also volunteered for Open Heartland projects and have helped to raise funds to keep the non-profit's operations going.  Operating expenses run about $7000/mo.  Open Heartland is able to obtain grants for food and other projects, but it is more difficult to fund-raise for operational dollars.
 
Other projects include the used clothing store and English learning classes held each Saturday with the help of Antelope Lending Library.  A mobile clinic comes regularly to follow up on medical issues and administer vaccinations.  Welcome to the community bags are supplied to new families in the migrant community.  There is also a dance troupe  that performs traditional dances in handmade authentic costumes that was formed from children in the Open Heartland community.