Rotary gift launches campaign for a new kitchen at the Community Center

A $50,000 gift from the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley is  launching a fundraising campaign to remodel the Sonoma Community Center’s kitchen.
“This generous gift from the Rotary Club makes what seemed an impossible dream, possible,” said Kathy Swett, executive director of the Community Center. The Sonoma Community Center has long needed an expanded and modern kitchen facility in order to be a viable venue for local events. “Not only will the newly remodeled and renamed ‘Rotary Community Kitchen’ serve as a site for the center’s culinary education classes and serve the needs of our annual free holiday dinners, this amazing donation also will support catering needs for Andrews Hall renters at no appreciable fee increase.”
For several years, members of the community have been raising money to remodel the center’s aging kitchen facility. “We are grateful to many people, starting with Jerry Casson and including Sheana Davis, Suzanne Brangham, Greg Silvi and many others for the initial outreach. With this large gift from Rotary we have made a big step forward,” said Swett.
Rotarian Gary Edwards, owner of Sage Marketing, a specialty food marketing company, presented the idea of funding the kitchen remodel to the club a year ago. “Along with a team of community volunteers, I have been cooking the Community Center’s annual Thanksgiving meal for the past five years,” said Edwards. “Five years ago we fed about 120 people, this past year we fed 365 people. The current kitchen just doesn’t work well for that size crowd.”
Each year, the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley funds student scholarships and other local community programs, as well health and education projects around the world. According to Bill Hammett, immediate past president of the club, the idea was adopted two years ago to develop a “splash project,” one that would provide a continuing service to the community for years to come. “Using funds reserved from John Meyn’s year as club president, and then from my year, and now under Rich Lee’s leadership, Rotary has been able to make the capital commitment needed for this investment in the Sonoma community.”
The Community Center serves local citizens young and old, making it the ideal recipient of the Rotary gift. The center offers classes for children, teens, adults and seniors. A new kitchen opens opportunities for cooking classes, more community events and times to enjoy the spirit of fellowship that comes from eating together.
“Everyone likes to eat,” said Edwards. “And food always brings people together. The kitchen is really at the heart of a quality community center.”