The Rotary Club of the Moriches Celebrates 75 Years

(Center Moriches, NY) — This year marks the 75th anniversary of The Rotary Club of the Moriches. To commemorate this milestone, the Moriches Rotary Club will have its 75th Anniversary Celebration on May 10 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Lombardi’s on the Bay, 600 South Ocean Avenue, in Patchogue.

Tickets are $80 per person, with a part of the proceeds to benefit Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck and its programs. Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck challenges children and young adults ages 6-21 with disabilities to reach beyond their physical and developmental challenges and experience all that life has to offer. Throughout the program, campers participate in typical summer camp activities, such as arts and crafts, talent shows, cook-outs, swimming and boating.

Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck was created by members of the Moriches Rotary Club in 1946. The idea for the camp began in 1941, when a donation was made to provide staff members for children afflicted with polio at the County Welfare Department Camp at Yaphank. The club members visited the camp and, seeing the plight of the children, they were moved. The club then arranged a picnic at an ocean beach; local Rotarians provided boats to bring over food and supplies for the picnic.

In 1942, the Club rented out the Oldfield home in East Moriches to provide a camp for the children. A camp was later provided for another home in Wading River between 1943 and 1944. In 1945, due to Department of Health regulations, the club provided — in lieu of a camp — transportation for the children to and from a summer school in Huntington. The program was abandoned in 1946 and, again, the club provided a camp in Yaphank. That same year, arrangements were made to purchase part of the land where Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck still stands; at the same time, the balance of the land owned by a member of the club was donated. In 1948, Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck was finally built, with materials and equipment being donated and volunteers helping to construct the camp.

In addition to the work being done for the camp, the Moriches Rotary Club operates Stuff-a-Bus, a food and clothing drive for community members in need; the Food Baskets Program to donate food baskets to needy families for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays; and the Spaghetti Dinner, which raises funds for scholarships for local high schools.

Tickets can be purchased from any of the club members. Checks may be made payable to Rotary Club of the Moriches. Please RSVP by April 20. Those who are unable to attend may send a donation to the Moriches Rotary Club. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities in the Rotary Club’s commemorative journal are also available.

For more information, visit www.morichesrotary.org. For more information about Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, call (631) 878-1070 or visit www.camppaquatuck.com.

Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck was created by members of the Moriches Rotary Club in 1946. Located on the shores of Kaler's Pond on eastern Long Island, Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck is funded entirely by donations and is a special place where children and young adults with physical and developmental disabilities ages 6-21 can experience firsthand the pleasures that an active life has to offer. Children participate in a wide range of activities especially designed for youngsters who are in wheelchairs as well as those who are ambulatory. These activities include swimming, boating, arts and crafts, petting zoo, talent shows, cook-outs, games and a Carnival Day. The program also provides educational activities in areas such as nature, arts, fire safety and communication skills.

Hank Russell, Public Relations Director
The Public Relations and Marketing Group
156 North Ocean Avenue
Patchogue, NY 11772
(631) 207-1057
hrussell@theprmg.com

This release was published on openPR.