Supporting literacy and having fun with second grade students is what the Bozeman Sunrise Annual Book Giveaway is all about. Our Annual Book Giveaway, which started as a small initiative in 2005, has continued to grow. Initially, we distributed one book to each second grader in a few one-room schools. Now, we provide two books to every second-grade student in all 37 public and private schools in Gallatin County. And in 2024 we reached 1,348 students, giving out 2,800 books in 75 second-grade classrooms.

A Rotary District Grant helped start an innovative project in Turkana, Kenya.  Through a participatory study, community members identified accessing clean water, preventing malnutrition, and empowering women to run their own businesses as urgent priorities.  Montana Rotarians from Bozeman and Missoula visited the project in October, 2024 to see how the project was working. Rotarians had the opportunity to meet and talk with women starting to farm and to build small businesses, empowering them to have more resilient livelihoods.

 

Turkana County is a dry ecosystem and Rotarians heard from a diverse group of community members, government officials and local Rotarians. It was really moving to see the power in community partnerships and the dedication of local organizations to make a difference in their county. Conversations always focused on how water and the availability of water was so crucial for all families.  Water is life was repeated very often.

 

Through women-led actions,129 women have started their own businesses or vegetable farms after receiving trainings and start-up support. It was inspiring to witness how women were learning and applying new skills, many with the objective of being able to send their children to school. One woman stressed the importance of earning her own money to ensure that she could keep her daughter in school during the drought times.

 

Montanans and Kenyans were able to learn from one another, discus similar concerns and create a connection. Montana Rotarians were even asked to help a new Rotary Chapter in Turkana get started!

This year's 13th annual event attracted around 310 parents, grandparents and participating kids to enjoy a warm and sunny day at Glen Lake Rotary Park. Equipment was provided as well as some techniques on how to catch a fish. It was rewarding to see the kids' excitement as they found the right spot to cast their line. And some even caught a fish.

The morning ended with a picnic and with kids sharing their adventures. A great way to spend the day at Bozeman’s beach!

Bozeman Sunrise Rotary is proud to recognize outstanding seniors at Bozeman High School with a Rotary Student of the Month award. Rotary Students of the Month exemplify leadership, civic duty, volunteerism, and academic success. They are seniors who are going places and dreaming big. These students have dedicated their time through volunteering to making their high school, Bozeman, and our state a better place.

 

The Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club participated in an inspiring community program this spring – Healthy KidsPack. Rotary members had become aware of the high number of kids in our community who were experiencing food insecurity.  The HRDC estimates that 1 in 8 children in Bozeman struggles to have enough food on a regular basis. Then we learned about the great program run by the HRDC - a food and nutrition program which provides balanced meals for kids so that they won’t go hungry over the weekend. During the school year Healthy KidsPacks are delivered to schools every Friday to help those most in need in Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin Counties.

 

Child food insecurity is a problem that inspires action from many Rotarians, so we came together at the new HRDC Market Place to pack sacks with food for students and their families. In less than two hours Rotarians, friends and family members packed at least 750 sacks to give enough food for the next week.