When Rotarians hear a need, they jump into action. Recently, Past President Jim Coyle and Interact Coordinator Becky Nelson - with unwavering support from Roswell Rotary Club President Trummie Lee Patrick III - delivered a personal packet to the Social Workers for the nine public schools that have Roswell-sponsored Interact Clubs. Why? A Roswell Rotarian (who wishes to remain anonymous) learned there are students in North Fulton County (an affluent Atlanta suburb) eating a “cheese sandwich” because their cafeteria student account stood in arrears. When this Rotarian called both Jim and Becky to see what he could do, he kept saying, “Just ridiculous!” The immediate response - an impromptu quick hit practical service project.

Based on calls made, we created a strategy for the Roswell Rotarian to adopt an area public school cafeteria to ensure that every student was able to eat AND the cafeteria staff was able to serve while no longer paying personally for the students in need. He not only cured the cafeteria student accounts in arrears but also transferred enough funds to cover the rest of the 2025-26 academic year.

In speaking with the RHS Social Worker about our mission to “Clear the Cafeteria Student Accounts," we learned that the schools are seeing an unprecedented amount of need. Students who are accustomed to being the giver are asking for services. Especially food.  Why?  With inflation, the Federal Government shutdown and the pause on the SNAP program, a very wide scope of students are no longer finding food at home.  School staff are being stretched with high absenteeism as well as elevated strife in the classroom, the cafeteria and other areas around campus because of the discourse at home.  At our next two club meetings, we told the club what we had learned and asked folks to donate if they could. Over $2,500 was received for our Families in Need which was used to buy Walmart gift cards for $25. Divided evenly among the nine schools, the packets not only included the gift cards but also a hand-written note of appreciation from President Patrick for their personal commitment to the students and the greater school community.  Each was delivered on the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving directly to each Social Worker. 

There were tears and a tenable sense of relief.  Why?  We knocked on the door unannounced because we had a gift versus a need.  We personally came up with a quick, practical and immediate solution not to the problem but certainly on the road to it. School Social Workers were heard, seen and celebrated as the resources they are in our schools. Each Social Worker has responded with sincere appreciation for the gift cards but mainly for the handwritten personal note from RRC President Patrick.

The Rotary Ripple effect is real in Roswell. 

• Two additional Roswell Rotarians have offered to adopt a school cafeteria each.
• A Roswell Rotarian offered financial assistance to a family in need.  The offer was mentioned in a follow-up e-mail to the social workers on Thursday and, within two hours, a local high school replied.  They had a senior in good standing that needed immediate financial help because his father’s income was stopping. He was going to quit school to work to pay the rent. Discussions happened and the Rotarian has agreed to pay the December rent so the student can finish this first semester without worrying.