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Volunteer for Hope on a Mission! 

Help Us Serve Those in Need 

Rotary in Action: Feeding the Homeless at Hope on a Mission 

We’re gearing up for an upcoming service project with Hope on a Mission, where we’ll be preparing and serving a hot meal to approximately 80–100 individuals in need—and we need our Rotarians' help to make it happen. Let’s show up strong, with compassion, and make a difference together.

📅 Thursday, April 16

⏰ Set-up: 5:30–6:00 PM

⏰ Serving: 6:00–7:00 PM

⏰ Clean-up: 7:00–7:30 PM

📍 600 Main Street, Poughkeepsie (parking is available at the Rent-a-Center across the street)

HRC Donates $1K to Teen Closet
Rotarians were proud to be able to meet some of the student members of the Peer Leadership Club while making a delivery of essential items to the Highland High School Teen Closet last week. This was the second delivery of necessities Rotarians have sponsored for the closet this year, completing a $1,000 total donation for 2025-2026 school year.
 
The Teen Closet is stocked with basic necessities, such as clothing, shampoo, deodorant, body wash, and more. The Closet is a confidential resource, coordinated through the Guidance Department, where students can access what they need with dignity and privacy.
 
We’re thankful to play a small role in supporting Highland students and ensuring every young person has access to the essentials they need to feel confident and ready to learn.
Making a Difference: Highland Rotary Club Honors Community Champions at 22nd Annual Service Above Self Dinner

The Highland Rotary Club will present three awards to distinguished members of the community at the 22nd Annual Service Above Self Dinner, which will be held on Friday, April 17, at 6 PM at Casa Milanese, in Highland, NY. This year’s honorees include Brian Beck, Taso Bakatsias, and Casa Milanese.

“This award recognizes non-Rotarians in our community whose actions reflect Rotary’s humanitarian motto, Service Above Self,” said Highland Rotary Club’s president, Don Verity. “The consistent dedication, generosity of spirit, and willingness to go the extra mile without seeking recognition of this year’s honorees truly exemplify these values.”

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Local Generosity, Global Impact: A Gift of Shelter
Once again we are reminded of the incredible generosity and heart within our Rotary family. Our fellow member Bjarne Mikkelsen presented the Club with a $1,000 donation from his nonprofit, Hudson Valley Helps Refugees, to purchase a ShelterBox.
 
For those who may not know, ShelterBox is an international disaster relief organization that partners closely with Rotary. When disaster strikes — whether from earthquakes, hurricanes, conflict, or displacement — ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and essential supplies to families who have lost everything. It is often the very first step toward stability, dignity, and hope for families facing unimaginable circumstances.
 
Rotary has partnered with ShelterBox for over two decades, and together Rotarians around the world have helped deliver shelter and supplies to millions of people in crisis BJ’s consistent dedication to helping displaced humans across the globe means that a family somewhere in the world will have protection, warmth, and a safe place to regroup during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
 
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Feeding the Hungry 2026
February 7 may have been one of the very coldest days of this year, but our hearts were filled with warmth at Saint Augustine's as we worked alongside so many community partners to provide a warm, delicious mean to those who needed it. Although at a 2 degree temperature outside it was too cold to get many walk-ins, that did not hold this mighty army of volunteers back, as we instead packed up meals and sent a caravan of drivers out to deliver them to more than 300 people in our community and across the river at Hope On A Mission:HOAM. Many thanks to all of the organizations who helped make this possible through their donations or volunteer hours, including Kevin Ronk at Sals Catering, the Knights of Columbus, the Mount Academy, Catholic Daughters, Highland High School Interact Club members, Hannaford, Sandro at Casa Milanese, and many more!
Supporting Our Neighbors with Coats & Turkeys
 
 
We were so happy to be able to provide Ulster County Community Action Committee, Inc. with 80 turkey breasts and 30 new coats to provide to people in our community who need some support. When you support a Highland, NY Rotary Club activity, raffle, or fundraiser, this is the good work you are supporting.
 
Club Information
Welcome to the Highland Rotary Club
Highland

Service Above Self

We meet In Person
Wednesdays at 7:10 a.m.
From the Ground Up Cafe; Vineyard Commons
6142 Merlot Dr
Highland, NY 12528
United States of America
District Site
Venue Map
What We Do
Club Executives & Directors
President
Don Verity
President Elect
Pete Fiorese
Vice President
Ron Ferris
Secretary
PDG Chrissy G. Giangrasso
Treasurer
Shawn Shaughnessy
Public Relations
Holly Brooker
Rotary Day of Service Chair
Ruy Alencar
Membership Chair
BJ Mikkelsen
Immediate Past President
Steve Laubach
The Rotary Foundation
PDG Chrissy G. Giangrasso
Rotary Links
 

Mission:

The Highland Rotary Club mission is to support local community and international needs through the Five Avenues of Service:  Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, New Generations Service, and International Service guided by the ethical standards of the Four-Way Test.

Vision:

The Highland Rotary Club is one of the leading service organizations in the community, serving as a positive resource for the local community and expanding our humanitarian support internationally. As a service leader in the community, we make a difference in the lives of many people during their time of need and work to foster our service ethics with our youth.

A LOOK BACK TO 2024: We were honored to present $15,000 to our first responders to be split between the Highland Fire District and Town of Lloyd Police to aid in the purchase of safety equipment. The funds were raised through the generosity of our sponsors and participants in our second annual First Responder Golf Outing in May 2024. Special thanks to our title sponsor JSP Home Services!
A LOOK BACK TO 2023: We were honored to present the Highland Hose Co. No. 1 Fire District with a check for $10,000 to aid in the purchase of safety equipment. The funds were raised through the generosity of our sponsors of and participants in our first-ever golf outing in May 2023 to benefit first responders. Special thanks to our title sponsor JSP Home Services.
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Upcoming Events
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💙 Service Above Self in Action 💙 On Saturday, May 31, we had the honor of sponsoring, preparing, and serving a hot meal to more than 100 individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction through the Hope On A Mission:HOAM street outreach in Poughkeepsie.
 
Highland Rotary is proud to support their mission, and this event marked one of many times our members have stepped up to serve. This time, Rotarians were also joined by several dedicated student volunteers from the Mount Academy.
We left humbled, inspired, and reminded why we do what we do. 💛

2024 Service Above Self Honorees

 
The Rotary "Service Above Self" motto conveys the humanitarian spirit of our organization. Each year, the Highland Rotary Club recognizes the people in our community who live by the same motto and are dedicated to serving our local community.

Award Honorees for 2024 are Jami Anson, Dennis Bragg, Raegan Hons, Sorbello Landscaping/Steven Sorbello, and TRC Auto Repair/Matthew & Sarah Bahr. You make our community a better place and are an example for all to follow.
We are so pleased to provide Taso Bakatsias with a donation towards his Eagle Scout Project! Taso came to a recent Rotary meeting and discussed his project, “Anchors Away,” which is an informational kiosk of the Black Creek Watershed that will be installed at the canoe/kayak launch. Taso has worked with the town's Environmental Committee, Town of Lloyd, Scenic Hudson, and John Burroughs Black Creek Trail Committee to design and get approval for his project, which will cost approximately $3500. Once he has secured the funding needed, his Boy Scout Troop and students from Highland High School will help build the kiosk. Good luck Taso!