Service Projects

The East Chapel Hill Rotary Club participates in a variety of service projects throughout the year. Projects range from meal assistance and litter pickup to long-term partnerships with local and national nonprofit organizations.

Green Team

Teacher Supply Store

International Medical Mission

SECU Family House Dinners

Christmas House

10 Orange Co. Habitat homes installed with solar

The Green Team

The Green Team, organized in 2019 by East Chapel Hill Rotarians Alan Young, Omar Zinn, Greg Bradbury, and Don Heinemen is committed to environmental stewardship, both globally and locally, through local projects, education, and by encouraging Rotarians everywhere to do the same. Our overarching goals are three-pronged: Green ourselves, Green our community, and Green our planet. Membership on the Green Team is open to all club members, Rotaract members, and anyone interested in the environment. Green Team membership is not required for participation in Green Team projects!

There are several projects under the Green Team umbrella:

  • Solar Panels & Habitat for Humanity Orange County partnership
  • Talkin’ Trash team
  • Planting Projects

Teacher Supply Store

Every August, local teachers shop for $75 worth of school supplies that the club purchases in conjunction with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation (PSF). The East Chapel Hill Rotary Teacher Supply Store has provided school supplies valued at over $450,000 to local teachers since 2008. By working with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation (PSF) and Staples, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School (CHCCS) teachers can stock their classrooms with much-needed supplies at no cost.

  • Educating our children is of the utmost importance, and state funding is at an all-time low.
  • Teachers spend money from their pockets to buy basic class supplies and teaching aids. We are here to help offset these expenses and need corporate and private donations to help.

The Teacher Supply Store fulfills two needs:

  • It places basic and essential items at the teachers’ at no cost to help jump-start their year.
  • It demonstrates to our teachers that the community values what they do and offers a very tangible morale boost to begin the school year on a positive note.

Help stock our Teacher Supply Store today!

$450,000+ donated to teachers since 2008

±600 children served each year

International Medical Mission

The International Dental Mission Trip began over 20 years ago. Although its original mission was to offer dental services, it has evolved to include other types of doctors, including plastic surgeons and obstetricians. A group of dentists, hygienists, and other volunteers travel from the US to Guatemala and set up a shop to serve local children.

The International Medical Mission depends on the collaboration of many people and organizations:

  • Collaborate with the Dental School at Guatemala University to provide dental student volunteers
  • Partner with other North Carolina Rotary clubs
  • Rent or receive donations from Guatemalan partner organizations for portable dental equipment – saves on cost/travel with PDUs
  • Expanded to include: laptops and soccer balls for local kids

SECU Family House Dinners

The East Chapel Hill Rotary recruits volunteers, plans, cooks, and serves dinner for the SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals on the third Thursday of the month. 

  • These dinners allow Family House guests to relax, while alleviating the worries of transportation, grocery shopping, and the hassle of preparing a meal after a long day of traveling or spending hours at the hospital.
  • Club members find it to be a rewarding experience of connecting with others who are away from friends and in need of comfort and support.
  • Club members cook and deliver food to the Family House and, if possible, stay to engage with the Family House guests and family members.
  • Meals are served cafeteria style around 6:00 pm.

Serving monthly dinners since 2008

1,000s of bikes donated since 2007

Christmas House

East Chapel Hill Rotary has participated in the Chapel Hill Service League’s annual Christmas House event since 2007. We work with various retailers to purchase as many bikes as possible. The Club members come together for a “Bike Build” party to assemble the bikes and deliver them to the Christmas House event. During the one-day shopping spree, these bikes and helmets go directly into the hands of parents and guardians to be gifted to their children. 

Christmas House is the Chapel Hill Service League’s signature annual community outreach project and has been in operation since 1950 and provides gifts to more than 900 local children. At the Christmas House, thousands of new toys, books, and new warm coats are assembled and beautifully displayed for a one-day “shopping” event. Parents and guardians are invited to select the perfect gifts for their children. Giving parents and guardians this active role in Christmas House sets it apart from other charitable gift-giving projects. The primary goal of Christmas House is to create a feeling of joy in the hearts of children. Our volunteers and supporters purchase, collect and sort thousands of toys, books, and coats to distribute to hundreds of local school children through their parents and guardians.