Join us on Friday Mornings at Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel
Community Services Committee
Richard Schoelerman
Co-Chair
Jyotika RoyC
Co-Chair
“Be a Gift to the World”
At the heart of Rotary lies a profound belief: each of us has something meaningful to offer. This belief calls us to recognize that by sharing our time, talents, and compassion, we can create real, lasting change in the lives of others.
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We believe community service is not just an action, but a mindset—a way of living that elevates both the giver and the receiver. Rotary empowers members to channel their personal and professional strengths toward meeting the needs of their communities and the wider world. Every project, no matter how large or small, becomes a vehicle for connection, understanding, and impact.
Our Purpose is to:
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Serve with compassion and relevance, responding to local needs with thoughtful, hands-on projects.​
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Lead with integrity, guided by Rotary’s core values and our commitment to “Service Above Self.”
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​Foster fellowship and inclusion, welcoming others into meaningful service experiences that unite people across cultures and generations.
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Promote lifelong learning, creating opportunities for Rotarians to grow personally & professionally through acts of service.
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Demonstrate that Rotarians are People of Action, leading by example and inspiring others to join us in building stronger, healthier communities.
​​Whether mentoring youth, improving literacy, restoring the environment, addressing loneliness, or advancing public health, our mission remains the same: to be a gift to the world—by being present, engaged, and committed to the common good.
Our Signature Projects
These are ongoing efforts that engage a large portion of our members. They reflect the club’s deep, sustained commitment to service and community impact. While addressing local community needs, our signature projects bring members together to make a meaningful, lasting difference.
Over the years, some of these efforts have grown and evolved into Club Causes of their own.
Food Closet
We support the vital work of the Palo Alto Downtown Food Closet, a community resource that provides nutritious groceries to individuals and families facing food insecurity. PAUR members volunteer each Monday to assist with food distribution, stocking shelves, and ensuring that those in need are treated with dignity and kindness. This partnership reflects PAUR’s commitment to addressing immediate needs while strengthening the fabric of our community.
Avenue of Flags
We proudly honor our veterans and fallen service members by posting and retiring American flags along University Avenue on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Veterans Day.
This proud tradition honors our veterans and strengthens community spirit. PAUR members, often joined by family, friends, along with other Rotarians and local volunteers, carefully place the flags in the morning and retire them in the evening—transforming the heart of Palo Alto into a vibrant display of patriotism and unity.
Clothes Upcycling
We collect gently used clothing for upcycling—giving these items a second life in creative and practical ways. Some of our members and member spouses lend their talents to transform these pieces: upgrading styles, mending what can be repaired, or crafting entirely new items from the materials.
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It’s a hands-on effort that blends sustainability with community spirit, reducing waste while creating something fresh and useful.
"Revive. Reimagine. Rewear."
Our Pop-up Initiatives
These member-driven smaller-scale activities come together on short notice and typically last a day or two at a time, a few times a year. They provide flexible opportunities for members to step in, lend a hand, and make a positive impact where it’s needed most.
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As member interest deepens and a case for larger impact can be made, these pop-up efforts may evolve into our club's signature projects.
Back-Packs
We support local students by providing backpacks filled with essential back-to-school supplies to children from families with limited resources. Through this meaningful effort, we help ensure that the students we serve begin the school year equipped to learn, grow, and thrive—both in and out of the classroom.
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Our dedicated members come together to collect, pack, and distribute these backpacks—offering not just supplies, but also encouragement, connection, and care to the young learners in our community.
Festival of Arts
We partner with Youth Community Service (YCS) at the Festival of Arts’ Italian Street Painting Expo (ISPE), where PAUR members and student volunteers help bring this colorful tradition to life. We provide chalk and supplies to children who create their own 2’x2’ chalk art squares, encouraging creativity and fun for all ages.
PAUR also sponsors a professional chalk art piece—sometimes honoring a beloved member. The event supports a nonprofit partner, blending art, service, and community spirit in a vibrant, hands-on way.
Second Harvest
We join Second Harvest of Silicon Valley a few times each year to help sort, pack, and hand out nutritious food to neighbors in need. Our members work alongside other volunteers to make sure groceries reach families, seniors, and individuals facing food insecurity—offering not just food, but kindness and support.
These hands-on service days reflect PAUR’s ongoing commitment to fighting hunger and strengthening our community.
Donation Drives
We organize toy and food donation drives throughout the year to support vital local organizations, Ecumenical Hunger Program, WeHope, and the Downtown Food Closet. These efforts help provide essential items and holiday cheer to individuals and families facing hardship.
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Through generous member and community contributions and hands-on involvement, PAUR helps ensure that our neighbors in need feel supported, nourished, and seen.
Who Benefits
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Local under-resourced communities of Rotary District 5170 benefit from our collective efforts in the areas concerning children, seniors and our environment.
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Club members get opportunities to volunteer and contribute towards a worthy cause.
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Our committee learns and adopts best practices which can then be shared with the larger Rotary community.
How To Get Involved
Please fill out an interest form and one of our committee members will be in touch.
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Individuals: If you are interested in serving your community, especially those under-resourced , please reach out to learn about the opportunities.
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Rotary Clubs: We can share our practices and lessons learned. We may also partner together to for greater impact.
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A Corporate Organization interested in promoting Volunteer Service: We can provide service and collaboration opportunities.