Hershey Rotary Club

Hershey Rotary Club Hershey Rotary cares about the community and the world around us. We currently hold our meetings most Mondays. Join us! Check our website for details.

We currently hold our meetings most Mondays from noon to 1 p.m. If you’d like to join us for a meeting, please send us a direct message through our page.

Hershey Rotary Club welcomed CocoaKitties and Derry Township Community Cats for a program that had a whole lot of heart ...
09/02/2026

Hershey Rotary Club welcomed CocoaKitties and Derry Township Community Cats for a program that had a whole lot of heart behind it. ❤️🐾

One of the most important things we learned is that these are two different organizations with two different missions, but their work often connects.

Derry Township Community Cats helps Derry Township residents with trapping outdoor and feral cats, spay and neuter services, vaccinations, post surgical care and returning community cats back to their colonies.

But sometimes a cat that is trapped turns out to be friendly and adoptable.

That is where Cocoa Kitties may step in.

Cocoa Kitties is a foster based rescue serving Hershey and the surrounding area. Cats may come to them through transfers from Derry Township Community Cats, owner surrenders, strays and other rescues. Their focus becomes rehabilitation, foster care and ultimately finding the right loving home. Cocoa Kitties also works to create a more compassionate community for animals through education.

What began with people who had been rescuing cats for years grew into Cocoa Kitties, officially established in 2022. Today, that work continues to grow, including their new space and catio where visitors can spend time with the cats, get to know their personalities and perhaps even meet the kitty meant to become part of their family.

Both organizations also face significant expenses. Veterinary care alone is a major cost, especially when kittens need vaccines, deworming, flea treatment, exams and care before they can move into an adoption program.

We are so grateful to Amy, Co President of Derry Township Community Cats, Kendra Roy Daub , Co President of DTCC and Founder and Director of Cocoa Kitties, and Cait Clark, Assistant to the Director of Cocoa Kitties, for sharing not only what they do, but why both organizations are so important.

📸 Pictured with Hershey Rotary President Bruce Youngbluth.

Two different missions. A shared love for these animals. And so many people quietly giving their time and hearts to help one little life at a time. ❤️

Please join us in giving a warm Hershey welcome to Ayeon Lee, our 2026–2027 Rotary Youth Exchange Student from South Kor...
08/26/2026

Please join us in giving a warm Hershey welcome to Ayeon Lee, our 2026–2027 Rotary Youth Exchange Student from South Korea! 🇰🇷🌎🇺🇸

Ayeon will be attending Derry Township School District (Hershey High School) this year and becoming part of our community and Hershey Rotary family. Along with her native Korean, she has studied English for 11 years and Japanese for one year. She has also served as a peer mentor, helping other students learn English.

That spirit of learning, sharing, and helping others is exactly what makes Rotary Youth Exchange so special. We are excited for Ayeon to experience life in Hershey, share her culture with us, make new friendships, and create memories that will last long after this year is over.

Ayeon, we are so glad you are here. We hope Hershey soon feels like a second home. 🏡

Interested in learning more about Rotary Youth Exchange or becoming a host family for a future student? Send us a message and we will gladly connect you with the right people.

Some of the most important work in our community is also some of the hardest. 😩In July, we had the privilege of hearing ...
08/14/2026

Some of the most important work in our community is also some of the hardest. 😩

In July, we had the privilege of hearing from fellow Hershey Rotarian Mackenzie Hooks, Supervisor with Dauphin County Children and Youth Services.

Mackenzie gave us a glimpse into a world most of us will hopefully never have to personally experience, but one we all need to understand.

When Children and Youth becomes involved with a family, the decisions are rarely simple. Their first responsibility is always the safety and well-being of the child, but Mackenzie helped us understand that removing a child from their home is not automatically the goal. When it can be done safely, the focus is on keeping families together, surrounding them with resources and support, and helping parents create a safe and stable home.

Sometimes that means looking beyond the immediate household to extended family or trusted people already in a child’s life. Sometimes foster or kinship care is necessary. And sometimes a family simply needs additional support, resources and guidance to get to a place where intervention is no longer needed.

Mackenzie spoke openly about how difficult this work can be, but also about how incredibly rewarding it is to see a family make it through, grow stronger and succeed.

Behind every case is a child. Behind every file is a family. And behind the scenes are people like Mackenzie doing incredibly difficult work with the hope of creating a safer, stronger future.

Thank you, Mackenzie, for sharing your knowledge, your experience and, most importantly, your heart with us. ❤️

Leadership. Service. Membership. And a whole lot of Rotary passion.Hershey Rotary Club was honored to welcome Past Distr...
08/11/2026

Leadership. Service. Membership. And a whole lot of Rotary passion.

Hershey Rotary Club was honored to welcome Past District Governor Fred Gellert, who spoke to our club about “Leading in Rotary – Service Through Leadership.”

If you have ever had the opportunity to hear Fred speak, or simply know his commitment to Rotary, you know how inspiring his passion is. Fred shared his thoughts on leadership, opportunities throughout District Rotary, strengthening membership, and the many ways Rotarians can continue to learn, serve and make a difference.

Thank you, Fred, for taking the time to inspire us, teach us, challenge us and offer ideas that we can carry forward in our own club and community.

And there was another special moment during the meeting. All of the past presidents of Hershey Rotary who were in attendance were asked to stand and be recognized. What an amazing group and what an incredible amount of leadership, service and Rotary history represented in one room!

Rotary leadership may change from year to year, but the commitment to Service Above Self continues.

Interested in learning more about Rotary or seeing what membership is all about? We always welcome guests to join us at a meeting and experience Hershey Rotary for themselves.

A Member Spotlight that took us all the way to Italy! 🇮🇹Recently inducted Hershey Rotarian David McMullen gave us the op...
08/11/2026

A Member Spotlight that took us all the way to Italy! 🇮🇹

Recently inducted Hershey Rotarian David McMullen gave us the opportunity to get to know him a little better during his Member Spotlight, sharing more about himself, his travels, and some of what he experienced and learned during a recent trip to Italy.

And, of course, being a Rotarian, David took a little bit of Hershey Rotary with him! During his travels, he attended Rotary meetings in Italy and brought home a beautiful banner to share with our club and Past President Dr. Tom Jones.

It was a wonderful reminder of something pretty special about Rotary: our membership extends far beyond our own community. When you travel, you can find a Rotary meeting, stop in as a visiting Rotarian, meet new people, and experience the fellowship that connects Rotary clubs around the world. 🌎

We also love our Member Spotlights because every member brings a different story, background, and experience to our club, and we genuinely enjoy getting to know the people behind the membership.

Interested in learning more about Hershey Rotary? Check out our page, find an upcoming meeting or community event, and come be our guest! We love welcoming new faces, meeting potential new members, and sharing what Rotary is all about.

Some conversations aren't easy, but they are necessary.At Hershey Rotary, we believe that learning is one of the first s...
08/10/2026

Some conversations aren't easy, but they are necessary.

At Hershey Rotary, we believe that learning is one of the first steps toward creating positive change.

We recently welcomed Alyssa Roth of the Elizabethtown, PA Rotary Club, who shared an eye-opening presentation about the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS) and the realities of modern slavery and human trafficking.

Many of us think human trafficking is something that only happens somewhere else. Unfortunately, it exists in communities across the world, including here in the United States. Alyssa challenged us to look beyond the headlines, understand the warning signs, and recognize that awareness can help prevent exploitation.

One message especially stayed with us: education matters. The more informed our communities become, the better equipped we are to protect those who are most vulnerable.

Thank you, Alyssa, for having the courage to speak about such an important topic and for helping our club better understand how Rotary members can be part of the solution.

This presentation was a powerful reminder that Service Above Self also means standing up for those whose voices are too often unheard.

Some recognitions deserve to be celebrated, no matter when they happen.We believe in recognizing those who quietly make ...
08/09/2026

Some recognitions deserve to be celebrated, no matter when they happen.

We believe in recognizing those who quietly make a lasting difference. During our June 15 meeting, several members were honored as Paul Harris Fellows, a recognition that reflects their commitment to Rotary's mission of doing good in the world through The Rotary Foundation.

Congratulations to:

🏅 Pete Gurt – Paul Harris Fellow

🏅 Stephen McKinney-Whitaker – Paul Harris Fellow, recognized through the generosity of an anonymous donor

🏅 Tom Fowlston – Paul Harris Fellow +1

🏅 Bob Fox – Paul Harris Fellow +2

🏅 Harold Nightwine – Paul Harris Fellow +4

🏅 Dr. Tom Jones – Paul Harris Fellow +5

These recognitions represent years of service, generosity, and a commitment to making our communities and our world a better place.

Congratulations to each of our honorees, and thank you for living Rotary's motto of Service Above Self every day. We are proud to celebrate you and your dedication to helping others.

🌎Changing lives doesn't always happen close to home. Sometimes it starts halfway around the world.Hershey Rotary Club re...
08/09/2026

🌎Changing lives doesn't always happen close to home. Sometimes it starts halfway around the world.

Hershey Rotary Club recently welcomed Dr. Julie Lentes, Assistant Professor of Public Health Sciences and Assistant Director for Global Health Initiatives at Penn State College of Medicine.

Dr. Lentes shared how she is helping educate future healthcare professionals while leading global health initiatives in countries including Vietnam and Ghana. From mentoring students to conducting research on pediatric motorbike helmet safety, her work is improving lives while inspiring the next generation to think beyond borders.

What struck us most was how one person's passion can create a ripple effect that reaches families, communities, and even future generations around the world.

Thank you, Dr. Lentes, for sharing your journey and reminding us that service has no boundaries. Your presentation was both inspiring and a wonderful reminder that even small efforts can have a lasting impact.

❤️ Some presentations stay with you long after the meeting ends. This was one of them.This week, Hershey Rotary Club had...
08/09/2026

❤️ Some presentations stay with you long after the meeting ends. This was one of them.

This week, Hershey Rotary Club had the privilege of welcoming Emily Pavalko, Marketing & PR Manager for Ronald McDonald House Central PA. Introduced by Hershey Rotarian Harold Nightwine, Emily gave us a heartfelt look into an organization that quietly changes lives every single day.

When a child is facing a serious illness, families shouldn't have to worry about where they'll sleep, how they'll afford another hotel night, or whether they can stay together. Ronald McDonald House lifts that burden, allowing parents to focus on what matters most... their child.

Some of the numbers Emily shared were simply incredible:
• Families stay an average of 7 nights, while some have called the House home for 617 nights.
• Nearly 2,500 families receive support each year.
• Around 90 volunteers donate approximately 12,000 hours annually.
• Every service is provided completely free to families because of generous donors, volunteers, and community support.

But what resonated most wasn't the statistics.

It was knowing that behind every number is a family experiencing one of the hardest chapters of their lives and finding comfort because someone cared enough to make sure they didn't face it alone.

Thank you, Emily, for reminding us that sometimes the greatest act of service is simply helping families stay together when they need each other most.

We also thank Harold Nightwine for introducing our speaker and President Bruce Youngbluth for presenting Emily with a small token of appreciation on behalf of Hershey Rotary.

Service Above Self isn't just something we say; it's what organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central PA live every day. Thank you for inspiring us and for all you do for children and families throughout Central Pennsylvania. 🏘️

With sympathy, we share the passing of Louise Swartzbaugh.Louise, the beloved wife of longtime Hershey Rotary member Cla...
08/08/2026

With sympathy, we share the passing of Louise Swartzbaugh.

Louise, the beloved wife of longtime Hershey Rotary member Claude Swartzbaugh, passed away on August 5, 2026. Claude preceded Louise in passing in January 2025, but Louise remained a cherished part of our Rotary family. She continued to attend Hershey Rotary events, including our recent gathering at Country Meadows honoring the Rotarians who reside there.

Louise was a familiar face at many Hershey Rotary meetings and events over the years. She will be remembered for her kindness, warmth, and the friendships she shared within our Rotary family. Her smile and gracious presence will be deeply missed.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the Swartzbaugh family and all who knew and loved Louise during this difficult time.

Visitation
Sunday, August 16, 2026
2:00–4:00 PM
Hoover Funeral Homes & Crematory
88 Lucy Ave., Hershey, PA

Funeral Service
Monday, August 17, 2026
11:00 AM
First United Methodist Church
64 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey, PA

Please keep the Swartzbaugh family in your thoughts and prayers.

Address

Hershey, PA
17033

Telephone

+17177124578

Website

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