Rotary Club of Grand Island: Thanks for Undie Sunday

By Michael J. Billoni

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

That is the collective message from the Rotary Club of Grand Island and the benefactors of a multitude of donations made to this year’s Undie Sunday. The donations of new undergarments and socks for men, women and children in need were delivered this week to Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc. in Niagara Falls, St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy and the City Mission in Buffalo.

Sherry Miller, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Grand Island and Undie Sunday chair, said: “We thank our community for their outpouring of support to the annual Rotary Club of Grand Island’s Undie Sunday collection. We were able to help the least of us by distributing bags of new undergarments and socks to three missions in our area. This was truly following Rotary’s mission of ‘Service Above Self.’ ”

Grant Babcock, director of operations at Community Missions of Niagara Frontier Inc., was extremely appreciative of the donations and said volunteers will sort the items into care packs for those living on the street or the underserved in the Niagara Falls community.

Gino Grasso, a missionary at St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy, was brought to tears when his volunteers accepted the donations this week. “The homeless men who come to St. Luke’s because of Code Blue (when evening temperatures fall below freezing) usually only have the cloths on their backs. To receive warm undergarments and socks like this is a true blessing.”

Donations were made at the following Grand Island churches: Bible Fellowship Center, Bible Presbyterian, CrossRiver Tabernacle Church, Island United Presbyterian, New Life in Christ Ministries, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, St. Stephen R.C. Church, St. Timothy’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and Trinity United Methodist Church. In addition, donations were made at Ace Hardware, Eggsquisite Eats, Grand Island Cooperative Nursery, Grand Island Memorial Library, Heron Pointe, Island Ship Center, M&T Bank, Niagara Frontier Publications, Northwest Savings Bank, Soma Cura Wellness Center, Tops Friendly Markets, Town Hall, The Viking Diner and Colvin Cleaners in Kenmore.