The Duxbury Rotary Club started the Good Neighbor Fund in 2014 to financially help people who live or work in Duxbury who have fallen on hard times.
It was designed to fill a gap:
- In 2014, Harry Katz, a well known and well loved member of the Duxbury Interfaith Council said “It could be anyone down on his luck. A lot of people are out of work. The economy is part of it. People are just in need.’’
- Some examples of how this has played out:
- A child is gravely ill, receiving expensive medical treatments. Parents are unable to pay medical bills,
- taxes, etc. to stay in their home while a child recuperates.
- A breadwinner loses job, no quick return to employment, goes through savings despite part time work.
- A senior citizen planned for a conservative retirement, lives on a fixed income, storm damage to roof
- not covered by insurance and must choose whether to pay taxes, heating bills, medical bills or food.
The Good Neighbor Fund was intended as a one time relief– it’s a stop gap only. We do refer people to other agencies where there may be additional resources when needed.
Since the start of the COVID outbreak, we have provided over $35,000 to members of the Duxbury community.
THIS IS OUR VISION:
We are committed to ensuring that Duxbury is a safe and welcoming community that embraces Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
We see a time coming, where everyone, regardless of race, religion, class, ethnic origin or gender identification, feels safe and welcome in our community.
THIS IS HOW WE DEFINE OUR MISSION:
Our mission is to act as a change agent to make this vision real. To that end, we will take on three complementary roles:
Educating ourselves and the public about the value of diversity, the unconscious bias that exists and the discrimination that results from it;
Bringing people, organizations and government together to implement policies and programs that effect change;
Promoting successes to assure support grows and our actions achieve our vision.
When the Rotary Club brings to life its vision and mission, everyone wins.
In 2022, the Duxbury Rotary Club, in concert with Duxbury for All, and members of the First Parish Church, committed to assisting an Afghani family resettle here after a harrowing escape from the attack on the Kabal, Afghanistan airport.
Hustled onto a plane, this family of seven left behind their families, and all that was familiar and supportive. After stops in Qatar, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin, the weary the father, pregnant mother, four children arrived in Boston at midnight just a few days after Thanksgiving.
Everything was unfamiliar, but they were greeted with the welcoming smiles of Duxbury volunteers. The community found housing for them.
Within two years, the mother had obtained maternity care in Boston and delivered the family’s first native-born son; the father was hired as a custodian in the town’s schools; the school age children are thriving in the Duxbury schools. The parents attend English classes three times a week, while studying for their driver’s license. The mother, a skilled seamstress, is sewing for a local dry cleaner. Their pride in become more self-sufficient is matched only by the joy of the volunteers.
It takes a village to make the American Dream possible. Respect for different cultures. Listening and seeing “others.” Welcoming instead of turning away. And recognizing that wealth is good fortune only when shared.
DARI is a celebration of the resiliency of refugees and the generosity of “ordinary” Americans. Duxbury Rotary is honored part of the first team that said, “Yes”.
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