By Larry Vetter
Past president
As December comes to a close, the Rotary Club of Chestertown marks the end of its 99th year — which means 2026 will be our centennial celebration.
That’s right. The Rotary has been quietly serving Kent County for nearly a century.
Many residents may not even realize we exist, let alone know what we do. So, this is a great time to share a bit about who we are and what we’ve accomplished this year.
The Chestertown Rotary is made up of individuals from all walks of life — professionals, business owners, retirees, volunteers and public servants.
While networking and fellowship are part of our mission, our core values center around civic duty and volunteerism.
Here are some of the highlights from 2025.
Mini-grant program
Each year, we support local volunteer organizations through our mini-grant program.
Instead of simply donating a lump sum, we ask organizations to submit specific requests — whether for materials, food, literature or other items that directly support their mission.
This year’s grant recipients include: Good Neighbor Fund, assists with one-time emergency expenses; Local Management Board, supports children with emergency needs not covered elsewhere; Minary’s Dream Alliance, Thanksgiving turkey giveaway; Rebuilding Together Eastern Shore, health and safety home repairs during National Rebuilding Month (April 2026); Open Doors, English classes for families; Samaritan Group of Kent County, emergency winter shelter; Blessing Bag program, weekly food pantry in Rock Hall; Mt. Olive Church, creating “The Olive Garden,” a nurturing space for families; Maker Space at KCHS, multi-color enclosed 3D printer and supplies; Sandy’s Garden, seeds and supplies to grow vegetables for local food pantries; Kent Attainable Housing, financial literacy coaching; National Alliance on Mental Illness, community outreach and information booths; and Interact Club at KCHS, field trip to Heron Point and a flower beautification project.
Fundraising and community projects
Funding for these grants comes from our annual events, including Soup & Sip, Flags for Heroes and the Tea Party food booth. We also host a Spring Fling, with
proceeds going toward scholarships for Kent County graduates, whether they’re heading to college or trade school.
Beyond fundraising, our members actively participate in community service projects.
We enjoy supporting the following: volunteer with Kent Goes Purple; conduct regular street cleanups along Morgnec Road (from Route 213 to the traffic circle); sponsor the Interact Club at Kent County High School; sponsor the Rotaract program at Washington College; and maintain a covered seating area at Wilmer Park and benches along the waterfront.
You might have noticed the new three-pronged water fountain (for people, pets and water bottles) near the public restroom at Cannon and Cross streets; we donated that.
And that’s just a portion of what we do.
The Chestertown Rotary is a vibrant, active organization committed to making a difference.
Want to get involved?
If you’re inspired by what we do and want to be part of our mission, we’d love to welcome you. To learn more, visit our website at https://ctownrotary.com.
Here’s to 100 years of service — and many more to come!