The Rotary Club of Atlanta West End (AWER) has launched and delivered multiple rounds of food support to students at Booker T. Washington High School, ensuring that students have access to nourishment during school breaks when resources might be stretched thin at home. This initiative puts Rotary's Youth Service Avenue into action in a very tangible way. Through the Booker T. Washington Snack Initiative, AWER members have already completed two major deliveries of food and gift cards this Rotary year, with a third delivery scheduled for Spring Break in April 2026 and another planned for the last day of school in May.

Working directly with the school's counseling and social work departments, AWER member Bridgette Long identified a pressing concern: many students rely on school-based food access during the academic week, and extended breaks can create gaps in support.

In response, Rotarians and community partners collected shelf-stable snacks and foodstuffs such as macaroni cups and noodles, applesauce and fruit cups, granola bars, and gallon-sized bags for packing weekend food kits. Items were collected at our weekly Friday lunchtime meetings at the GA Tech Hotel & Conference Center and also purchased through an Amazon wishlist to simplify participation and broaden community involvement.

During the February winter break delivery, AWER members ensured the school pantry remained stocked, helping prevent depletion of essential supplies. The school counselor, Ms. Robinson, expressed deep gratitude, noting how meaningful this partnership is for students and families.

In the leadup to Thanksgiving, the project expanded even further when AWER member Carolina Ramos rallied friends and family to donate Kroger gift cards, ensuring households could purchase fresh food items to complement pantry staples. These additional resources extended the club's impact beyond students to entire families.

Here in the Atlanta West End Club, we believe that service and fellowship go hand in hand. Projects like this remind us why we joined in the first place, and they tend to bring new members in too. They embody AWER's mission to build fellowship while creating sustainable community impact.

What makes this initiative especially powerful is its continuity. Rather than limiting support to a single holiday drive, AWER committed to ongoing deliveries throughout the school year:

• Thanksgiving Break 2025
• Winter Break 2026
• Spring Break 2026 (Upcoming)
• End of School Year 2026 (Planned)

By structuring the initiative around school breaks, the club created a predictable rhythm of support, strengthening trust and partnership with school leadership. District 6900 clubs looking for replicable, relationship-driven youth initiatives may find inspiration in this model.

Special shoutout to AWER member Bridgette Long for leading our club in this initiative, and to Carolina Ramos for going above and beyond to extend our reach into the community. Both embody the spirit of Rotary and Service Above Self.