Individuals from several Rotary Clubs met recently to plan improvements to the patient recovery center in Ecuador. Pictured left to right are: Gustavo Alzate, Advisor to the Fundraising Committee and Treasury; Quito Norte Rotary Club, Ecuador; Cristina Alzate, from the Quito Norte Ladies Auxiliary, Ecuador; Susana Falck of the Muncy Rotary Club; and Mike Nailor and Carl Askew from the Sunbury Rotary Club.

MUNCY – Since 1934, the Muncy Rotary Club has helped people locally and in other parts of the world, like Ecuador. In recent years, the club has partnered with the Quito Norte Rotary Club of Quito, Ecuador, to provide aid to abandoned and abused children, to assist a home for displaced and disabled elderly, and to help construct survival homes for 13 families after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated the coastal region of Ecuador.

This year, through the coordination of Susana Falck, the Muncy Rotary Club’s International Director, the club will work with the Quito Norte Rotary Club to make basic sustainable improvements to a patient recovery center, which is a lodging facility for poor patients who must travel great distances for surgery and medical treatment. Since there is no option for these patients to recover in a hospital after major surgery, and no motorized vehicles to take them home, they must rely on the center for a bed, follow up treatment, and meals.

Working together, the two Rotary Clubs will contribute funds and labor to install hand railings, paint and treat walls to increase sanitation, and provide stretchers and mattresses. Additional funding will be provided by the Sirviendo F.A.I.T.H. Foundation and possibly other Rotary Clubs.

The Muncy Rotary Club also takes an interest in the local community, especially with students. Each year the club gives a dictionary to every third and fifth grade student of the Ward L. Myers Elementary School, awards an annual $2,000 scholarship to a high school senior, and sponsors other types of training and educational contests, such as a speech contest.

The club meets every 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Monday at Orlando’s Restaurant in Muncy, at 5:30 p.m.