Take a bite out of hunger (with just $10) on April 29th through Rotary Fast

Happy National Volunteer Week!

Passionate volunteers around the world are invited to join together this week to help raise money for the hungry, even while we are stuck at home and not able to engage in our normal volunteering! Those with hunger challenges are even more at risk during the COVID-19 crisis. Rotary Fast is a day of Fasting (with a $10 pledge) on April 29th. Don’t worry–if you don’t want to experience the hunger pains that millions feel every day of the year, simply donate $20 and be a non-fasting member of the “R-Fast” Tribe!

1. Watch the video below and visit rotaryfast.com to learn more.
2. Visit our event page and please click “going” to show that you are supporting (and share!). Participate by pledging to fast on 4/29/20 with a donation of $10 (you’re invited to pay $20 to be a non-fasting supporter). This fundraiser is a way for Rotary clubs all over the world to invite communities to work together (while apart) under one umbrella to create their own Rotary Fast fundraisers (clubs from Clarke County VA to Kampala, Uganda are participating).
3. Know that your donation AND your help by inviting your friends to participate will literally keep children and their caretakers on the other side of the world and right here in the Shenandoah Valley fed throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Visit rotaryfast.com to pledge your fasting to support the local or global hunger initiative of your choice. Check back daily as clubs are in the process of signing up on the rotaryfast.com website to raise money for hunger initiatives closest to their hearts. Locally, Clarke County is hosting an R-Fast to raise funds for FISH of Clarke County. FISH is a Christian ministry that provides support for neighbors in need such as food, clothing, transportation, emergency financial assistance, and integration into the community through the efforts of a committed network of volunteers.

The Rotary Fast initiative is being sponsored by The Rotary Club of the Northern Shenandoah Valley (RCNSV), a club chartered in 2019 to unite service-minded residents of Rotary District 7570, Area One whose schedules don’t allow them to meet during the day. The RCNSV is nicknamed “The Area ONE|ders” and members hope that “Rotary Fast” will unify the entire organization as one through this initiative that enables each club to raise funds for many projects under one simple platform.

“We believe that Rotary has the opportunity to lead nonprofits in finding creative ways to help during this crisis and hope clubs will benefit from Rotary Fast’s ability to help them easily raise money for those who are in need now more than ever,” shared RCNSV President Doug Sexton.

The uniqueness of this fundraising platform is that it enables individual clubs to choose hunger relief efforts close to their hearts, in their own communities or on the other side of the world. Beth Medved Waller, President-Elect of RCNSV (and founder of the nonprofit WHAT MATTERS), has had a long-standing dream to develop global fundraising platforms to showcase the good works of nonprofits around the world while increasing awareness and raising funds for relief efforts. That dream is about to become a reality through her creation of Rotary Fast. “My passion is to launch inspiring initiatives that can be duplicated to help fund any worthy cause. I’m thrilled to be able to partner with Rotary to help others fund projects they are passionate about.”

Contact Beth at beth@whatmattersw2.com if you know of a Rotary club interested in participating or log online to rotaryfast.com to pledge to fast to support their own club’s R-Fast which will help to feed Maisha Home and Front Royal Light Up Academy children in Uganda. The youth are especially in need now because their primary sponsor, Herbie Kawuma, is a performing artist and all of his concerts that fund Light up Life has been canceled.