Now in its 85th year, the East Haven Rotary Club continues to lend a helping hand in its community and beyond, while consistently inspiring people to join as new members. According to Joan Adamcyzk, who recently began her third term as the Rotary’s president, three new people have joined the club in the past month, and there is always room for more.

“If you want to make a difference in somebody’s life, if you want to make a difference in your community, then join Rotary,” says Joan.

Joan says that the "camaraderie" and familial environment of the Rotary makes the club a special one which is filled with volunteers who are always willing to help their neighbors. Joan definitely notices this trait among her fellow Easties who, like her, grew up in town and want to see their fellow community members do better in their day-to-day lives.

“East Haven’s a great community,” she says. “No matter what's going on in the world, they always come together in a time of need. Always.”

This is an especially powerful sentiment considering the fact that, unlike other Rotary clubs on the shoreline, East Haven’s Rotary is a grassroots organization which is completely led by its community volunteers.

Now in her third term as the club’s president, Joan reflects back on the reasons why she decided to join the Rotary after being persuaded by friends such as the late Ben Mazzucco, for whom the club’s annual clothing project is named.

Joan has been involved with the Foxon Recreation League for 35 years and sits on its board of directors. However, Joan always felt like she could do more in town and wanted to see how she could try to help solve some of the issues in her community. Joan felt that a great way to do that would be by taking the initial step of joining a club like the Rotary.

“The only way you make a difference is by getting involved,” says Joan.

Joan picked up this mindset when she was younger by learning from her mother about the importance of helping others and the ripple effect that can have on a community.

“She always instilled that you always give back to people,” Joan says. “It always comes back two- and three-fold. You always have to be kind and good to people.”

Joan’s third term as the Rotary’s president demonstrates the demographic shifts which have taken place in the club.

“Back then, Rotary was prominent. It was all men—businessmen and professionals—and they wanted to get more women involved. Now, Rotary is 90% women,” she says.

Still, the East Haven Rotary Club is always looking for new volunteers to support its fundraisers and altruistic efforts, both in and beyond town, as part of the broader international community of Rotary volunteers.

“I want to see us continue to grow and do stuff not only in our community, but you know, worldwide, because Rotary is international,” says Joan. “They have a lot of programs overseas in Africa.”

The East Haven Rotary has thought globally in the past, having donated money toward the construction of wells in Uganda.

Joan reflects on some of the Rotary’s most prominent efforts, including the Ben Mazzucco Clothe the Children project—an event which has a big impact on children in need of clothing.

“We take those kids one day, two days, to Kohl’s…It's usually in January, and they come into the store, and they can buy clothes,” Joan says. “Some of the kids walking out of there, they’ll say, ‘This is my first pair of Nikes I've gotten,’ or ‘This is the first coat I don’t have to share.’ It's really heart-warming.”

“I’m so happy that I can be a part of something that can give back like that,” she continues. “To hear a child say, ‘This is my first pair of Nikes,’ it just broke my heart.”

Joan also mentions the Rotary’s partnership with BHcare on a backpack program which involves donating a new backpack with school supplies to children, including those who are victims of domestic violence, for the first day of the school year.

With Thanksgiving coming up, the Rotary remains committed to delivering free meals to East Haven residents, many of whom live at Woodview Apartments and East Farm Village.

“We have 250 meals that we hand-deliver to people who don't have a place to go, don't have someone to eat with, don't have a meal,” Joan says.

For information on the Thanksgiving dinner deliveries, including how to make a donation, visit: www.easthavenrotary.org/thanksgiving-dinner-deliveries.html.