Rotary Club of Ipswich-Rowley

10/16/2026

Rotary Shoe Collection Stimulates Opportunity

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary, in partnership with Paula Henrys Fitness and the Ipswich Family YMCA, extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who donated shoes to our recent Soles4Souls gently worn shoe drive.

Through sorting, grading, recommerce, repurposing, repairing, and responsible end of life solutions, Soles4Souls extends the life of shoes and clothing to maximize their impact while reducing environmental waste.

In low-income countries, long-term work can be scarce. Soles4Souls works with like-valued partners to help people start and grow businesses – using donated shoes and clothing to create sustainable livelihoods. Vetted partners in-country purchase the donated shoes and clothing and resell them at a modest markup to 4Opportunity entrepreneurs and thrift store.

Thanks to your generosity, we collected 228 pairs of gently worn shoes! The impact of that generosity reaches far beyond our community.

Here's what your donations made possible:

• You helped divert 285 pounds of waste from local landfills, extending the life of these items and reducing their environmental footprint with every wear.
• Your donations create over $2,063 in economic opportunity for families and communities around the world through Soles4Souls' 4Opportunity and 4Relief programs . This opportunity translates into essentials, education, and a path toward greater stability.
• You helped provide a family with consistent access to quality food, housing, and education for two full months in places like Haiti and Honduras.
• Your donations allow families to have a little more security, a little more opportunity, and a little more hope, because our community chose to show up for them.

This effort was only possible because so many of you took the time to clean out your closets and drop off your donations. Whether you gave one pair of shoes or several, every single contribution mattered.

Thank you for being part of something that made a real, measurable difference, both locally and globally. We're already looking forward to our next opportunity to do this together.

With gratitude,
Rotary Club of Ipswich-Rowley
Paula Henry Fitness
Ipswich YMCA of the North Shore

10/15/2026

Is a Green Burial right for you?

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary is teaming with the Rotary District 7930 Environmental Action Committee to host a series of information sessions focused on environmental sustainability.

The first program in this series will explore natural burial options beyond the traditional funeral.

We realize this is an important topic that we all would rather avoid. But in order to make the right decision for you it's important to know your options.

Please join us on Zoom, October 29 at 7pm, as ‘Campbell Funeral Home’ owner and Funeral Director Lauren Campbell explains the benefits and limitations of ‘Green and Natural Burials’.

To receive the Zoom link, please contact Andrea at [email protected]

09/17/2026

Let’s play BINGO!!! Join your friends and neighbors on October 16 as Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians host a fun night of BINGO!! There will be light refreshments, cash bar, a silent auction, and some great prizes for our Bingo winners!!!!

Each registration includes two Bingo card packs. Additional cards will be available for purchase at the event. Doors will open at 6pm. Bingo begins at 7. Space is limited.

Use the flier QR code or this link to reserve your space https://ipswichrowleyrotary.org/events/bingo-night-at-masonic-hall/


Proceeds will benefit the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Charitable Trust, which funds our service projects and helps support local nonprofit organizations.

Included among these initiatives are scholarships to Ipswich and Rowley students, Ipswich Dinner Bell, food assistance services to Ipswich and Rowley residents provided by The Open Door and Newbury food pantries, our sponsored youth programs, Ipswich Family YMCA, Senior Care, and many others.

We are especially grateful to our Diamond Sponsors who have generously donated toward the cost of food, venue, advertising, and supplies:

Clinton Dalton, Esq. Brigantine, P.C.
Ipswich Investment Management
BankGloucester
Institution for Savings

09/16/2026

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Brings Birthday Joy in Every Bag

Birthdays are particularly joyous celebrations for families and friends. For a family experiencing food insecurity, this occasion is a hardship. Stress, social pressure, and tough choices can rob their children of being royalty for a day.

What’s the solution? Birthday – In – A Bag!

As they do each Fall, Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians packed 50 shopping bags filled with supplies to create an instant birthday party for eight children. The bags include all the trimmings – cake and frosting mix, tablecloth, box of games, streamers, party hats and favors, plates and napkins, and banners.

These bags of wonder were split between The Open Door and First Parish Newbury food pantries which serve Ipswich and Rowley families in need. Clients of both pantries with children can pick up or request a birthday-in-a-bag with their deliveries.

Joy is again created, one bag at a time.

09/14/2026

What a wonderful tribute to a beloved institution. Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians had the honor of being hosted weekly by fellow Rotarian Cathy and her outstanding staff at our regular morning meetings.

The food was great, the service exceptional, and the location North Shore iconic. Thank you to the Village Pancake House team for a decade of great memories! You will be in our hearts and Rotary family forever.

Some restaurants are more than places to grab breakfast or share a meal. They become part of a town’s story.

For the past 23 years, the Village Pancake House has been one of those places.

Generations of families have walked through those doors. There have been countless breakfasts, cups of coffee, familiar faces, conversations between neighbors, and memories made around those tables. Through it all, the Sutherby family created something very special — a true family restaurant that became part of the fabric of Rowley.

Here at the Agawam Diner, we understand just how much goes into keeping a family restaurant going year after year. The early mornings and the long days. The family members working side by side. The loyal customers who eventually feel more like friends. The incredible privilege of watching generations of families grow up right before your eyes.

That’s what makes saying goodbye to the Village Pancake House bittersweet.

We are so happy for the Sutherby family as they begin a very well-deserved retirement, but we also know that something familiar and special will be missing from our little town.

For 23 years, you fed people, welcomed people, knew their names and gave Rowley another place that felt a little bit like home.

You weren’t simply a restaurant. You were a Rowley tradition.

From one longtime family-owned Rowley restaurant to another, thank you for being such wonderful neighbors and for everything you have given our community.

You will most certainly be missed.

Now turn off those alarm clocks, sleep past breakfast, put your feet up and enjoy every minute of retirement. You’ve earned it. ❤️

With much love and our very best wishes to the entire Sutherby family,

The Agawam Diner Family

09/13/2026

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary volunteers continue weekly food deliveries in Ipswich and Rowley on behalf of the Newbury Food Pantry.

In the photo, John Herth loads up his truck for deliveries in Ipswich in August.

09/07/2026

Rotary Maintains 9-11 Memorial Park in Rowley

On Saturday, September 5, volunteers from the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary club gathered in Rowley to prepare the 9-11 Memorial Park for this year's remembrance. The park was created by the Town of Rowley and is maintained by Rotary to remember the three Rowley residents who tragically lost their lives in the 2001 World Trade Center attack.

Rotarians were once again led by our 9-11 team captains from Rowley, Doug Shealy and Bob Snow.

08/28/2026

08/16/2026

Congratulations to our Interact leaders and their Ipswich-Rowley Rotary advisors - Martha Ma**er, Chris Davis, Keith Harris, and Christina Harris! Another great youth leadership event.