The last community service event in December was Feed the Hungry at Centerville Free Dining Room on December 31. Whenever there is a 5^th Thursday of the month, Niles Rotary provides the dinner, which is different from the regular dinners served in the Free Dining Room. The meal consists of delicious meat loaf from Dino’s Restaurant, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, salad, and bread, plus dessert. The Free Dining Room provides as many helpings of food as the attendees wish, so the volunteers are busy with seconds, thirds, etc. as well as refreshing the milk, water, and coffee pourers. Niles Rotary will be serving dinner at the Free Dining Room on March 31, June 30, September 29, and December 29, 2016.

The annual Pizza with Santa party was on December 19 at Centerville Presbyterian Church, with 5 families being served on a very special day. They began their day with decorating photo frames for the family photos with Santa taken by John & Joan Kimber; many families don’t have the luxury of family photos, so these are special. The day continues with playing in a jump house, and the highlight of playtime is the horse rides, provided by Niles Rotarian Manuel Franco and his family from Whispering Hills Ranch in Milpitas. The children are so excited to see, pet, and ride a horse, usually for the first time. The pony Priscilla and horse Trigger very nicely accommodated the riders throughout the morning. The morning culminates with a visit from Santa who sits with each family as they receive their gifts, provided by Niles Rotary. After the gifts, pizza is provided, courtesy of Pizza Italia. Niles Rotary has been having Pizza with Santa since 1998, and now works with the City of Fremont to select the families who will participate in the event. Niles Rotarian Rose Evernden-Andrade chairs this annual event.

Read the complete story and see more photos in the January 2016 Pinion.

Each year, Niles Rotarians volunteer to do Salvation Army bell ringing for one Saturday at Dale Hardware and the Safeway Hub. On December 12 we had over a dozen volunteers ringing the Salvation Army bells at the red buckets.

Read the complete story and see more photos in the January 2016 Pinion.