Rotary Club of Hickory Sunrise

Press Releases

March 31, 2007 Hickory Rotary as well as other local organizations do their part to bring computers to kids

With information technology advancing with every passing day, computers are quick to become obsolete in the work place. These computers which are outdated, yet still operational are often disposed of or warehoused in some forgotten storage area. Meanwhile, Catawba County has hundreds of families with school-aged children who are in desperate need of home computers.

Thanks to the Hickory Sunrise Rotary Club, Exodus Homes, Hickory City Schools, and several local businesses and individuals who have donated used computers, 200 families in Catawba County have received their very own computers. Lenoir-Rhyne College was one of many organizations to generously donate computers that were no longer compatible on their network. The computer project was spearheaded by Larry Holland with Exodus Homes and Glenn Fisher with the Sunrise Rotary Club who have worked tirelessly to transport, repair, clean up, and test these computers in preparation for local students in need.

“Having a home computer is no longer a luxury”, says Glenn Fisher, “It is fundamental to our students’ education.”

The members of the Hickory Sunrise Rotary Club, along with many other organizations believe that improving the level of education has a direct impact on the economy in Catawba County. “The School systems have their own struggles with not only budget cuts, but recruiting and retaining teachers”, says Rotarian, Caroline Cauthen. “This computer project is one way that we can partner with our school systems and make a difference in our kids’ future, which is our future as well.

Hickory City Schools has provided a room at the old Green Park School where volunteers from the Sunrise Rotary Club and the Exodus IT program test and repair the donated computers. Each computer is loaded with an encyclopedia, a student report writer, a typing tutorial and other educational programs. Each week as the computers are ready to go families are notified so that they can pick up their “new” computer. The families are selected by their school based upon need. Currently, every 4th and 5th grader at Oakwood Elementary School has a home computer, thanks to the computer project. “but we are running low on inventory,” says Glenn Fisher. “We want to keep the momentum going, especially when we see the faces of the kids and their parents when they pick up their new computers.

If you would like to donate outdated computers, monitors, key boards, or printers please contact Glenn Fisher at 302-3838, glennfisher@hotmail.com or computers can be dropped off at Hickory Dickory Dock any time.

For more information on how to get involved with the Hickory Sunrise Rotary Club, contact Caroline Cauthen.

Dec. 30, 2002 - Club Comes Up Big During Christmas Holiday Season

Catawba County's newest and smallest Rotary club came up big during the Christmas holiday. Hickory Sunrise Rotary Club, just over two-years-old and 38 members strong, was involved in three separate projects to help those in need.

Early in December, club members donated more than 30 backpacks for orphans in Moldova, a country with more than 10,000 orphaned youths. The backpacks were filled with school supplies, toys and toiletries. But, the donations were not the end of this project. Two of the club's members, Amy Minton and Richard Tucker, traveled to Moldova in mid-December, representing both their church and Rotary, and assisted in the distribution of thousands of backpacks. In most cases, the backpacks were the only thing the children received during the holidays. Many of the Moldovan orphanages are operated by the Little Samaritan Mission, which has an office in Hickory.

Hickory Sunrise Rotary was also active in the Cops for Tots program of the Hickory Police Department. The program collects and distributes toys to needy families throughout the greater Hickory area. In addition to a cash donation to the program, Rotarians assisted in the toy and bike distribution at Catawba Furniture Mall. More than 1100 families were helped and more that 150 new bicycles were provided. Sunrise Rotarian and Hickory Police lieutenant Steve Hunt directs the Cops for Tots program.

Members of the club also assisted the Salvation Army by manning a collection kettle during the holiday season.

Hickory Sunrise Rotary meets each Wednesday at 7:00 AM in the Bear's Lair at Lenoir Rhyne College. For more information, contact Dan Christian at 322-1105.