Rotary Club of Mauldin, SC

05/23/2026

Today we beat the rain! Not that it did not rain but the rain did not stop Mauldin Rotarians from celebrating another Annual Cookout at Generations Group Homes.
Maria, Lorza, John Thornton, Larry Wood, Mark Brunson, my wife Diana and I were there.
The kids could not have a better time through the rainy morning. We went into the gym and played Square 9 and volleyball which got everyone into the action of keeping the ball in the air!
While the game was going at full speed, Larry and John took care of the cooking business in the kitchen! Burgers and hot dogs were delicious.
Maria, Mark, Diana and I took care of the serving line for the 25 kids and staff who enjoyed having lunch with a Rotarian at each table.
Special thanks to Lauren and the counselors at GGH and the kids who were great!😊

04/22/2026

More about Switch
Rotary Club of Mauldin, S.C.
MCC Rotary Room
Tues., Apr. 21, 2026
We celebrated NATIONAL CHOCOLATE- COVERED CASHEWS DAY with Bob’s concoction! Don’t tell his bride!
LUNCH started at 12:00 p.m. The lunch MENU was spaghetti, corn on the cob, salad with dressing, Texas toast, sweet tea, lemonade, and water.
President Wilfredo Leon CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER.
MEMBERS PRESENT were President Leon, President-Elect Bob Stouffer, Program Chair Trena Velez, Sergeant-at-Arms Emilio Porras, Norman Bunn, Larry Wood, and Mark Brunson.
VISITORS PRESENT were ADG Dee Vaughan, SWITCH Ministry Coordinator Karin Freeland-Aviles, and Downtown Greenville Member and Goodwill Development Manager Jay Handler.
Trena led the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG.
Bob offered the INVOCATION.
Bob INTRODUCED our guests.
Emilio Porras, Sergeant-at-Arms, facilitated the CART Change Collection, HAPPY BUCKS and the famous GAME OF SKILL. There are close to $200.00 in the pot. Dee drew the five of diamonds. One more week! One more week!
Bob gave an update about ESSAY ON THE THE FOUR-WAY TEST. Four finalists from Southside Christian Middle School have been identified. Bob never heard back from Mauldin Middle School. Thank you, Sarah Poss, Southside Christian Middle School English Teacher, who facilitated this competition!
Wilfredo announced that 5 students will be attending the District Conference leadership training, sponsored by our Club.
WIlfredo announced that 2 students will be sponsored at RYLA in June, 2026. Thank you, Norman, for facilitating this process!
Wilfredo solicited volunteers for the GENERATIONS GROUP HOME KICKBALL TOURNAMENT AND COOKOUT.
Trena INTRODUCED our SPEAKER, Karin Freeland-Aviles, Ministry Coordinator, SWITCH, an anti-trafficking ministry.
Karen’S Message of awareness: switch at a glance
What is s*x trafficking? Someone uses force, fraud, and/or coercion to cause a commercial s*x act with an adult – or causes a minor to commit a s*x act.
S*x trafficking is a $99 billion industry.
6.4 million People are involved in commercial s*xual exploitation.
S*x trafficking is a bigger industry than drugs. The “product” of trafficking, unlike drugs, is never “gone.”
Where? Hotels and motels, po*******hy, massages and spas, personal s*xual services, residence-based commercial s*x, street-based s*x, etc.
Top 5 counties in S.C.: Greenville, Charleston, Berkeley, Richland, and Lexington.
Most victims are minors. Not all cases are reported, because many of the victims are young.
Familial traffickers are the Number 1 instigators.
As of January, 2023, 17 states have declared po*******hy a public health crisis. Po*******hy fuels s*x trafficking.
5 SWITCH programs: Awareness, Prevention, Intervention, Demand, Restoration
Participant Services: Holistic case management; Mentorship; Survivor classes; Partnerships with legal, medical, dental, and counseling services; Clothing closet; and optional discipleship.
Testimony: SWITCH helped a stripper get a good-paying job!
How to respond? An older man with a much younger woman? Don’t approach them. These are criminals. They are never truly alone. Call law enforcement. Provide as many details as you can.
The women come to SWITCH when they are ready for their healing journey.
Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
Switch Office: 864-215-3977
Switch Intake Line: 888-490-5129
How can Rotary or Rotary members be involved? Host an event! Follow Switch on Facebook and Instagram (.sc). Pray! Become a monthly donor. Volunteer. Help SWITCH make connections with other like-minded partners.
“We are doing God’s work, and we are making a difference.”
Karin fielded QUESTIONS:
Atlanta is a city of significant trafficking. Charlotte, too. Obviously, Greenville is along that 85 corridor, so we would be naive not to conclude that Greenville has the same problem.
The office and clothing closet would welcome volunteers.
Males are trafficked as well (25-50%).
It’s difficult to get into churches. 50% of pastors struggle with po*******hy use.
“We’re not here to condemn. But we are here to assist people who have been exploited.”
Po*******hy is an addiction.
WIlfredo awarded a Rotary Gold Coin to Karin, who led everyone in reciting THE FOUR-WAY TEST:
Of the things we think, say, or do. . .
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
DON’T FORGET:
NEXT LUNCH MEETING: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Speaker Zach Prince, Greenville Triumph Soccer Club | Rotary Room | Noon
UPCOMING SPEAKERS:
May 19th, Lauren Meling, Generations Group Home
June 2nd, Kimberly Best, Alzheimer's Association
July 7th, Martine H., RIZE (Youth Drug Prevention)
The meeting was ADJOURNED at 1:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Stouffer, Recording Secretary

04/01/2026

On the Opioid Epidemic;
Dear Members:
At our Rotary Club of Mauldin meeting on March 31, we were joined by Sam Garrison, the Community Opioid Risk Coordinator (CORC) for the City of Mauldin Fire Department.

Mr. Garrison oversees opioid addiction abatement in our city, leading a collaborative effort involving the Mauldin Police, Firefighters, Public Works, and other local partners. He shared critical insights into the opioid crisis:

- The Danger: Opioids—including he**in, fentanyl, morphine, and codeine—are highly addictive. A dose as small as the tip of a pencil can be fatal.
- Accessibility: These substances are increasingly easy to obtain, including through v**e shops.
- Widespread Impact: Misuse is not always obvious; it affects individuals across all professions, including doctors, teachers, and business leaders.
- The Toll: In 2023, there were 9 million cases of misuse and 109,000 overdose deaths. Opioids are now the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S.

To combat this, Mr. Garrison is focused on recovery, education, and prevention. His work includes partnerships with 15 regional recovery centers, an Overdose Response Team, and educational programs at Mauldin Middle and High Schools.

How You Can Help:

1. Engage: Initiate open and honest conversations with those you suspect may be struggling with dependence.
2. Participate: Join us for Drug Take Back Day to safely dispose of unused or expired medications.
- When: Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Where: 218 New Neely Ferry Road, Mauldin

Let’s work together to support these efforts and protect our community.

Best regards,

Wilfredo Leon

03/29/2026

Mauldin High School Interact Club members putting "Service Above Self" at the Miracle Hill Thrift Store in Mauldin

01/19/2026

01/17/2026

Thanks to all who helped package nearly 12,000 meals for impoverished schoolchildren!

01/17/2026

See you next year!

12/20/2025

Come support our bellringing at Ingle's in Mauldin!

12/11/2025

Donating coloring books, colored pencils and sharpeners, with the help of our sponsored Interact Clubs at Mauldin High and Southside Christian, to Prisma Children's Hospital.