By Gary Nager
The motto of Rotary International is “Service Above Self,” and never are those words more important to the Rotary Clubs located not only in our area but around the world than during the holiday season — which, of course, begins in earnest in this country on Thanksgiving Day.
This year, the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, which meets Wednesdays at noon at Ciao! Italian Bistro in the Shops at Wiregrass Mall, will host its fourth annual “Turkey Gobble Feast,” a free event for hundreds of local families who might not get to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner with “all the trimmings” without assistance.
This year, the Wesley Chapel Rotary, which recently absorbed members from the Land O’Lakes Rotary Club, will cook and serve this free Thanksgiving meal in at two locations — Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54, near Saddlebrook Resort) and at Keystone Community Church (21010 S.R. 54, in Land O’Lakes), on Thursday,. November 28, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., at both locations.
Participating families can dine in or even take out the complete meal, which will include turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, veggies, rolls and pie. Each attendee also will receive a to-go snack pack in addition to the meal itself, as well as be eligible to win $25 gift cards to help with life’s necessities, from gas and groceries to clothing and more.
If you or someone you know would like to attend at either location, call (561) 320-3121 or email RotaryTurkeyGobble@gmail.com.
Wobble Before You Gobble!
Another Rotary-sponsored event that is open to anyone, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, is the “Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot” 5K & 1-mile “Fun Run,” which will start and end at the Shops at Wiregrass Mall. Proceeds from the Wiregrass Wobble will go toward Feeding America of Tampa Bay (the charity selected by event co-sponsor FitNiche in the mall) and other local charities supported by the event’s other co-sponsors — the New Tampa Rotary Club and the New Tampa Family YMCA.
The Wobble, the perfect way to burn off enough calories for you to “deserve” your Thanksgiving meal later that day, will feature a timed 5K race and 1-mile “fun run/walk.” Please note that the date to reserve T-shirts in your size for the race was November 21 (as more than 1,200 participants are expected for this outstanding event), although a New Tampa Rotary spokesperson says that race T-shirts should still be available right up to and on race day. In addition, free 5K finish line photos will be provided by Overflow Church.
For more info, visit WiregrassWobbleTurkeyTrot.com or Facebook.com/ Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot.
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