07/10/2026
Our first meeting of the new Rotary year, and it was a busy one! We heard from not one, not two, not three, but FOUR organizations today. We do our fundraisers each year specifically so we can help organizations like these who serve our community.
First we got a quick update from Donna Smolarick, the Director of Development at Ridge Area Arc. Donna wanted to announce that she is retiring, and introduced the club to the incoming Director of Development, Candra Walker.
Donna reminded us that the ARC is always looking for volunteers to interact with the individuals they serve. She wanted us to know that developmental disabilities do not stop their clients. In her words, they are "Just people like you and I".
If you have skills and talents you would like to share, or maybe you would like to participate in supportive therapy and take a group fishing, shopping to a movie, to a high school football game, please consider Ridge Area Arc. You can view their services at www.ridgeareaarc.org, or call them at 863.452.1295.
Our next guest was Dimitri Baussan, the CEO of the Highlands County YMCA. The YMCA is 175 years old. It is the birthplace of basketball and volleyball. The HCYMCA is breaking growth records. They had added extra seasons in most of the sports leagues this year. They run membership specials all the time, and have a special "God and Country" special price for our First Responders and Veterans.
Dimitri says they try very hard not to turn anyone away and have scholarships available as well. He was proud to announce that they will be expanding to include a branch in Lake Placid. For more information, please visit www.highlandsymca.org, or call 863.382.9622.
Guest number three was Meredith Russell, Executive Director of Highlands County YFC. She was super excited to share that there are now campus clubs in every school in Highlands County. They just started at Lake Placid Middle School this year, and found they actually had to limit the number of students to 100 due to overwhelming interest in the club.
There are currently 900 students across all the Highlands County campus clubs, double from last year. They have distributed 250 Bibles, and 42 teenagers accepted Christ at last year's camp.
Meredith said she would really like to expand into a building downtown, as they are aware of the number of youth who hang around downtown without a lot of direction. She'd like them to have a place they can go to hang out, talk, interact, and discover Christ.
For more info, please visit their website at www.highlandsyfc.com, or call 863.464.3292.
Last but certainly not lease, we heard from Director Mary Margaret Staik of Sebring Meals on Wheels. She wanted to let us know that they just started a sustaining donor program for those who would like to support them year over year.
Mary Margaret shared that they deliver hot lunches Monday through Friday, with an additional cold meal for dinner. The meals are $6/meal.
She said they are really looking for younger volunteers. Currently, none of the volunteers are under the age of 70. The delivery drivers are a crucial, integral part of the community. Most of the customers are shut-ins and suffer from loneliness and seclusion. The deliveries serve as a kind face with kind words, and as a way to check-in with these individuals.
Their biggest fundraiser each year is their annual golf tournament. This year will be their 27th year on November 7th. For more information, please visit www.sebringmealsonwheels.com, or call 863.402.1818.
We hope you will support these worthy organizations supporting our community--doing good in Highlands County!
