For many of the 800+ children in Delaware’s foster care system who go from home to home each year with their few belongings and little hope, discovering that there are people who are aware of them and care to do nice things for them can be a life-altering revelation.​

Christiana Rotary Club’s Delaware Children First Fund Program, formerly called  “The TOUCH Program” (Transform One Unique Child’s Heart), has been doing that for hundreds of foster care children each year since 2004. The program provides a happy Christmas time by fulfilling their personal holiday list of clothes and toys, and also in late summer by providing back-to-school clothes and supplies. The program has also begun funding a need-based college scholarship for a qualified student who is leaving foster care to begin reaching for a career.​

The goal is to ensure that every foster child knows they are loved and supported by the community. These children are our future friends, neighbors and community leaders. Having a healthy and caring childhood is important to their development.​

In cooperation with the State of Delaware and CASA
The children served range in age from 18 months to 18 years. Christiana Rotary works with The Delaware Office of the Child Advocate and also CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, to identify the needs of each child. A typical holiday list might include a winter coat, scarf and gloves, underwear, a new dress, and a doll. Back-to-school needs for clothing and supplies are fulfilled as well. Rotary members raise the needed funds, work with local merchants and organize shopping groups to purchase the gifts.​

Funds for this program are raised through donations to the Christiana Rotary Club’s non-profit foundation. 100% of the funds received go to the purchase of gifts or scholarships.​

What can you do to help?

• Make a monetary donation right here on our website.
• If you are a vendor, please consider “special pricing” to maximize purchasing power.
• Join our Rotary club or assist on one of the shopping trips and experience the good feeling of helping.

Thank you Stockings For Soldiers - Delaware, Inc. for ensuring that over 10,000 active duty troops each year receive a personalized gift package over the holidays.

Thank you for sharing your mission and volunteering opportunities with our Rotary members last week. We are looking forward to collecting items to help fill those stockings which will thank our soldiers for their service.

Stockings For Soldiers - Delaware, Inc. was founded to help improve the morale and welfare of members of the armed forces of the United States of America deployed in harm's way.

They accomplish their mission by sewing holiday stockings and filling
them with special items for the troops. Many of the stockings that they send are for a specific person with their name on the stocking.  For many troops, this gift is all they receive for the holidays.

They are trying to send a "touch of home" as well as personal
messages of support to remind our troops that we appreciate all they do for us and to let them know that they have not been forgotten over the holidays.

To volunteer or make a donation please visit stockingsforsoldiers.org.

Member Spotlight: Angi McCloskey is a new member who just joined this past spring.

Angi is the Community Relations Manager for Mosaic in Delaware and joined Rotary because she loves the motto, Service above Self. As a member of Rotary she is on the Club Administration, Public Image, and Scholarship committees.

When not at Club activities she volunteers with Parent Information Center of Delaware as an Educational Surrogate Parent. Angi enjoys public speaking, teaching, going to the beach, and rescuing and fostering senior dogs. She lives in Wilmington with her husband Mike, and her son, Bankole.

Youth Exchange is a study-abroad opportunity for young people who spend anywhere from a few weeks to a full year as an international student hosted by local Rotary clubs. To really make this program work best, we need host families. Each year, we arrange 3 host families for the youth exchange student.

What are the Requirements? 

Exchanges are for people ages 15–19 who:

• Have demonstrated leadership in their school and community
• Are flexible and willing to try new things
• Are open to cultural differences
• Can serve as an ambassador for their own country​

What Does it Cost? 

Costs vary from country to country. Local Rotary clubs generously host students and provide room and board with a host family and a small monthly stipend. Participants are generally responsible for:

• Round-trip airfare
• Insurance
• Travel documents (such as passports and visas)
• Spending money, additional travel, and tour fees

Where Can you Apply?

Contact us here to start the application process. Because the selection and orientation process can be lengthy, we suggest you apply 6­–12 months before you plan to leave.