LAGRANGE, KY.  The LaGrange Rotary went ahead with its scheduled annual “Yard Sale” event on Saturday, September 15th, 2001 despite the World Trade Center disaster.

Money raised from the annual sale was to be placed in the general fund and used for various educational and charitable programs sponsored by the Rotary.

However, a phone poll of the board members resulted in a last minute change.  Hand made signs were posted stating that yard sale proceeds were to be used for NY disaster relief.

In spite the shock and sadness most area residents were feeling that Saturday, the event was a success.  A number of people driving through downtown LaGrange saw the signs and stopped by just to make cash donations.

On Tuesday, October 2nd, a check for $2000 (two thousand dollars) to the American Red Cross – Disaster Relief Fund was presented to Mary Lynne Tingle, Manager of the National City Bank in LaGrange.

Following the September 11th tragedy, two members of the LaGrange Fire Department, Sabrina and Jessie Dabney, heard of the cleanup items needed by the New York Fire Department and other emergency workers at ground zero.  So with the leadership and blessing of their leadership, John Mason, Jeff Eggers, Chief Mike Heilman, and Inspector Keith Smith, they went around the community collecting all sorts of supplies.  In fact, they collected a whole truckload of supplies for the emergency workers at ground zero.

When the LaGrange Rotary Club learned of this grass roots effort, it decided to direct some of the proceeds of the Annual Rotary Yard Sale to the LaGrange Fire Department to help offset some of the cost incurred by the department.

A check for $500 was presented to the LaGrange Fire Department at the weekly Rotary Club luncheon.

The LaGrange Rotary Club presented a holiday gift of $2,500 to Prodigal Ministries, Inc. to purchase socks and hygiene items for 1000 prisoners at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex. 

The check was presented to Suzanne McElwain-Seabold with Prodigal Ministries, a Christian prison aftercare program.  The gift was presented at the weekly Rotary Club luncheon. 

The LaGrange Rotary Club presented a check for $1,025 to the Oldham County Red Cross to assist needy families in Oldham County with Christmas presents and clothing. 

The check was presented to Shirley Hempel and Rick Bissmeyer from the Oldham County Red Cross at the weekly Rotary Club luncheon.  Ms Hempel told the club that the money would allow the Red Cross to make Christmas much nicer with clothing and presents for ten local families.

Visiting the LaGrange Rotary Club this week was the Oldham County EMS “Care Bear” and his EMS friends Barbara Rosenman and Chris Campbell.  The LaGrange Rotary sponsors the Care Bear in the education efforts in Oldham County. 

Ms Rosenman described to the club the educational programs focused on both the youngest and oldest residents of the county as they visit schools and senior centers.

She explained that they now want to expand the program to provide education and some emergency training for large population between the youngest and oldest.  This training would include CPR and Heimlich procedures.  They are preparing a funding grant request for additional funding to support this expanded plan.