Westbrook-Gorham Rotary

05/31/2026

We were so pleased and proud to participate in the WRVC Awards night again this year! 12 Scholarships (pictured here) and 4 toolships, each for $500. Hint: we're the the two with the gray hair 🤣🤣

These scholarships are made possible by the ongoing House Project partnership among our Rotary Club, WRVC, and the City of Westbrook - since 1957!!. Building trades, electrical, and some other students get hands-on, real-world experience in construction. Once a house is sold, proceeds are turned round into the next house and into these scholarships and toolships.

Best of luck to all of these students and to all WRVC students as they move on to their next chapter.

What a memorable evening at the WRVC Awards Ceremony held on Thursday, May 21! We were honored to c...

05/28/2026

Spring is such a busy time, we fell behind on our posts!! On Saturday May 16, a Rotary Epic Day of Service for many Rotary Clubs and Districts around the world, we were pleased to partner with FBC Westbrook to prepare and serve a free community meal.

Thanks to all of the volunteers who helped plan, source, purchase, cook, clean and serve this meal. This was our third year participating in this universal Day of Service and we can't wait until next year!!

05/27/2026

What a beautiful day it was yesterday!! The sun was shining, the breeze was light, and the flowers were blooming!! Several members of W-G Rotary worked on our District Grant Project to beautify what local folks still call Martini Lane, the alley that runs between Istanbul Restaurant and Bakery and Westbrook Discount Beverage on Main St. We cleaned out the huge concrete planters, planted a variety of flowers, and picked up litter in the area. We'll continue to watch over this space this summer.

Thanks to Rotary District 7780, The Rotary Foundation, and the current or former members of our club who planned and executed this project.

Thanks also to the City of Westbrook for moving these old planters into place last fall and making some lighting adjustments. We look forward to working with Discover Downtown Westbrook on additional improvements in that area.

04/25/2026

Rotary is in the house, or more precisely in the library. Come find us, play our hole #8, and take away a coloring book and crayons!! Friends of the Walker Memorial Library Walker Memorial Library

04/25/2026

Happening now!! Mini golf in the stacks at Walker Memorial Library 1-4PM.

04/20/2026

As the school year is nearing the end, we were served another delicious meal by the culinary students of Westbrook Regional Vocational Center - breakfast for lunch!!

We also had a wonderful recognition from Westbrook Maine Police Department - a Citizens Award for our financial support for the Recovery Liaison Program. The Award was presented by Missy Esty PD's Recovery Liaison and Marguerite from Community Policing. Both of these departments do amazing work in our community and were were pleased to be recognized.

Finally, it was time to learn more about Furniture Friends. Executive Director Tae Chong and Community Engagement Coordinator Sophia Doremus spoke about "Best Investment for Housing Stability That No one Talks About". A home is just an empty room without a bed or a kitchen table. An empty room can cause anxiety and stress just like an empty cupboard or refrigerator. Furniture provides stability that allows families to use food banks and stay out of shelters.

Furniture Friend services mostly clients with very low or extremely low incomes. In 2025, they served 864 households, 119 of which were in Westbrook and 9 in Gorham. There is also an environmental impact to their work as they are able to distribute furniture that might otherwise end up in a landfill.

Their volunteers come from many sources including businesses, schools and faith communities. In 2025, that represented nearly 4800 hours. But they can always use more help. To learn more, visit
https://furniturefriends.org/

In honor of Tae and Sophia, a children's book was donated to Walker Memorial Library

04/17/2026

Wow!! Amazing results!! Thank you Westbrook Community and Westbrook Community Center for responding to our appeal for children's books.

Volunteers from Altrusa International - Portland, Maine Club and Westbrook-Gorham Rotary started sorting today to move books to places they will be very much appreciated. Most will stay right at the Community Center, to be found on the bookshelves just down the hall. Others will make their way to a couple of food pantries and to Community Policing. We also think a few will be perfect for our good friend Book Fairy Pantry Project. She's looking for Target bags, so even those will be put to good use.

We'll be back on Monday or Tuesday to finish up, so you still have a little time if you have books you'd like to share and didn't get a chance to drop them off.

04/07/2026

Thank you Westbrook Community! Lot's of great books have been donated already, but there is still time. If you have some gently used children's books that your family has outgrown, here is a chance to pass along the love of reading!!

Collecting books in the main hallway at Westbrook Community Center through April 17 (across from the Information Booth). However, you can drop off children's books anytime to the bookshelves outside the Westbrook Westbrook Learns Program offices.

Thanks also to members and friends of Altrusa International - Portland, Maine Club for adding books to this drive.