Big Check. Big Gift.
PUTNAM — J. Scott Pempek, president of the Putnam Rotary Club, displays the large check representing the money raised by the Putnam club for the Rotary Disaster Fund. Behind him are the club members who donated so generously. Pempek said the effort started after he was involved in a Zoom meeting with the Rotary Club of Avon-Canton. The Zoom presentation was a live feed from Kyiv about the war and the refugees.  “That was the impetus to do something,” Pempek said. Putnam Rotarians “stepped up with donations” and Pempek said the Putnam Rotary Club board voted to match the donations up to $1,000. While the check says $2,000, Pempek said the club actually raised more than that. And the club’s Interact Club held a carwash and raised a separate $847 toward refugee relief. Pempek said the Rotary Disaster Relief Fund will work through Rotary International. Almost 100 percent of the funds raised will go toward refugee relief for Ukrainians. Linda Lemmon photo.

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