On Saturday morning, May 16, Senior Class Officers, Advisors and Parents planted an array of lawn signs with each graduating Senior’s picture and the message “We Love Our Seniors Reading Memorial High School Class of 2020.”  The signs were arranged in front of the Town Hall and Town Hall Annex facing the Reading Common.  The display was set up as a surprise to students and their families and was spearheaded by Senior parent Mrs. Kathy Kinney and sponsored by Reading Rotary.  The signs were printed by Hayden Specialties.

 

As the events traditionally held for the graduating Seniors are being cancelled, postponed or re-imagined, parents brought the idea to honor Seniors visually in a central location in Town to Rotary, who happily agreed to be the sponsor for the signs.

 

The signs will remain on the lawn in front of the two Town Hall building for a week, kicking off Virtual Spirit Week.  Students and their families are encouraged to stop by and take a picture with their sign.  (Social distancing and masks when appropriate are respectfully requested.)

 

During the pandemic, Reading Rotary is focusing its service on supporting the Reading Food Pantry, supporting essential workers and promoting positive community spirit.

 

Pictured above is Graduating Senior Yasmine posing with her sign.

Reading Rotary has made a gift of stud earrings to health care workers at the Residence at Pearl Street.  This initiative is part of their recent emphasis on supporting and recognizing essential workers during the pandemic.

 

The earrings are made by Stat Studs (studsforscrubs.com) a jewelry business in Reading, run by Paul Vultaggio.  They have created a COVID-19 response program.  This campaign is specifically for the nurses and health care workers on the front line fighting the COVID-19 crisis. It is a way to give back to those who are putting their own lives at risk to save those who are in dire need.

 

The Residence at Pearl Street had been hosting Rotary meetings at their location before the pandemic.  Rotary President Mike Collins said of this campaign:  “We saw this gift to the workers at Pearl Street to be a way to say that the community appreciates all their service to our vulnerable seniors.”