Rotary Club of Menlo Park: A November of Service, Partnership, and Community
November is a season that naturally invites reflection and generosity. For the Rotary Club of Menlo Park, it was a month defined by coming together to support neighbors, partner with local schools, and turn care into action through hands-on service.
Fifth Annual “Donating for Dignity” Turkey Drive
November marked the Fifth Annual “Donating for Dignity” Turkey Drive, one of the Rotary Club of Menlo Park’s most meaningful community efforts. This year, the club partnered with three local schools: Sacred Heart, Woodside Priory, and Saint Francis, to support St. Anthony’s of Padua Dining Room and the St. Francis Center in Redwood City.
Local students, families, educators, and members of the Rotary Club of Menlo Park came together for the Fifth Annual Donating for Dignity Turkey Drive, contributing more than 600 frozen turkeys, $4,500 in financial donations, and hundreds of canned goods in support of St. Anthony’s of Padua Dining Room and the St. Francis Center in Redwood City.
More than a food drive, the effort brought the community together to provide warm meals for hundreds of families while helping students and staff better understand food insecurity and the impact of working together.
November is a season that naturally invites reflection and generosity. For the Rotary Club of Menlo Park, it was a month defined by coming together to support neighbors, partner with local schools, and turn care into action through hands-on service.
Fifth Annual “Donating for Dignity” Turkey Drive
November marked the Fifth Annual “Donating for Dignity” Turkey Drive, one of the Rotary Club of Menlo Park’s most meaningful community efforts. This year, the club partnered with three local schools: Sacred Heart, Woodside Priory, and Saint Francis, to support St. Anthony’s of Padua Dining Room and the St. Francis Center in Redwood City.
Local students, families, educators, and members of the Rotary Club of Menlo Park came together for the Fifth Annual Donating for Dignity Turkey Drive, contributing more than 600 frozen turkeys, $4,500 in financial donations, and hundreds of canned goods in support of St. Anthony’s of Padua Dining Room and the St. Francis Center in Redwood City.
More than a food drive, the effort brought the community together to provide warm meals for hundreds of families while helping students and staff better understand food insecurity and the impact of working together.
Putting Care Into Action
In addition to supporting families through the turkey drive, members of the Rotary Club of Menlo Park also came together for an in-house service day focused on supporting individuals experiencing homelessness.
Rotarians assembled 30 care kits, each thoughtfully prepared with essentials including warm socks, a Mylar-lined rain poncho, a hat and gloves, hygiene items, snacks, and a toothbrush. The kits were delivered to LifeMoves at the Opportunity Center in Palo Alto, where they will be distributed directly to individuals in need.
This service day was a reminder that meaningful impact does not always come from large gestures. Often, it is the simple act of showing up, working side by side, and caring for others in practical ways that matters most.
Looking Ahead
As the new year begins, the Rotary Club of Menlo Park looks forward to a lineup of programs that invite learning, dialogue, and connection.
On January 21, 2026, Kharis Templeman will speak on the current China-Taiwan relationship, drawing on his research at the Hoover Institution and Stanford to help make sense of a complex and important global issue.
On January 28, 2026, Susan Gonzales, a local resident and global AI expert, will lead a conversation on generative AI, exploring what it is, why it matters, and how it is already shaping everyday life.
Looking ahead to February 25, 2026, Rotarian Amy Boggs will share stories and photos from her recent trip to Kenya, including the Rotary Club of Menlo Park’s solar stove project and visits with local Rotary clubs and schools.
Join Us for Lunch
Community members are always welcome to join the Rotary Club of Menlo Park, which meets for lunch on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 12:15 PM at the Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor Road in Menlo Park. Lunch is always our treat.
--In addition to supporting families through the turkey drive, members of the Rotary Club of Menlo Park also came together for an in-house service day focused on supporting individuals experiencing homelessness.
Rotarians assembled 30 care kits, each thoughtfully prepared with essentials including warm socks, a Mylar-lined rain poncho, a hat and gloves, hygiene items, snacks, and a toothbrush. The kits were delivered to LifeMoves at the Opportunity Center in Palo Alto, where they will be distributed directly to individuals in need.
This service day was a reminder that meaningful impact does not always come from large gestures. Often, it is the simple act of showing up, working side by side, and caring for others in practical ways that matters most.
Looking Ahead
As the new year begins, the Rotary Club of Menlo Park looks forward to a lineup of programs that invite learning, dialogue, and connection.
On January 21, 2026, Kharis Templeman will speak on the current China-Taiwan relationship, drawing on his research at the Hoover Institution and Stanford to help make sense of a complex and important global issue.
On January 28, 2026, Susan Gonzales, a local resident and global AI expert, will lead a conversation on generative AI, exploring what it is, why it matters, and how it is already shaping everyday life.
Looking ahead to February 25, 2026, Rotarian Amy Boggs will share stories and photos from her recent trip to Kenya, including the Rotary Club of Menlo Park’s solar stove project and visits with local Rotary clubs and schools.
Join Us for Lunch
Community members are always welcome to join the Rotary Club of Menlo Park, which meets for lunch on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 12:15 PM at the Allied Arts Guild, 75 Arbor Road in Menlo Park. Lunch is always our treat.