Twelve
years ago we helped to start a new service for children in Santa Monica. We
teamed with St. John’s Hospital and the County of Los Angeles to give free
vaccinations against six deadly diseases. The County donated the vaccines;
St. John’s Hospital had doctors and nurses volunteer to administer the shots and write the
records; and the members of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica took care of the
construction and disassembly of all the signs and furniture. In addition, the members helped keep the kids
entertained with
balloons, cookies and other goodies.
The
operation took place on a church playground in the southern part of town
because some foreign-born families feared taking their children into a hospital. We spread word via radio stations, church bulletins, and whatever other media
would help, and about twenty kids got shots that first time.
Since then the needlework mission has been repeated and expanded
every
two months.
After a little while the families lost their fear of institutions, and
operations were shifted into St. John’s cafeteria, which eased the work for the
hospital as well as the Rotarian helpers.
Other
organizations throughout the country have started similar projects. More than 80
percent of pre-schoolers now get five of the six recommended immunizations. Donna Shalala, Health and Human Service Secretary, told newspapers,
“We have seen a breathtaking decline in most vaccine-preventable diseases.”
But
the job never ends. “Each day 11,000 babies are born, and their immunization
coverage starts at zero,” says the director of the Center for Disease
Control’s immunization program.
In Santa Monica, we help give shots to as many as 100 children at each
bi-monthly session. We did it again on the morning of Saturday, July 19th. About nine Rotarians are needed
to take care of the simple manual chores and provide a friendly
atmosphere. We need them in crews of three, for two-hour
shifts starting at 9:00 and ending by noon. Will you come and help?
If you will help, please call Joe Gonzales, Jim Reidy or Barry Bouley. You can park free (courtesy of Monika White) behind the Center for Healthy Aging at 2125 Arizona. Drive to it through the parking lot on 22nd Street. Finally, thanks for being part of a huge, lasting service to children.
By Keith Monroe
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Shots for Tots March 2004 |
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Relaxing after a fun day of helping our kids. (Boy don't those donuts look good!) Shown starting left: Jay Gross (I like the suspenders), Barry Bouley, Petra Haffter, Joe Gonzales, and Harris Levey.
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Our Rotaractors were there! Shown starting left: Richard Conn (Rotaractor), June Doy, Bryan Flores (Rotaractor Secretary), Presdent Dee Menzies, Maria Richardson (Rotaractor President), and Myles Pritchard
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Pictured helping are Harris Levey, Jim Westbrook, Chairman Barry Bouley, Frank Lavac and Director Jim Reidy. Keeping all the men in-line is Frank's daughter -- Kira Lavac. |
| The hot air guys (or is that the balloon men?) finished blowing up the balloons in preparation for the "SHOTS FOR TOTS." Both Joe Gonzales and Steve Litvack are active Rotarians in our Immunization Project. |
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Jim Westbrook, Hal Quigley, Harris Levey and Jim Reidy were on-hand to provide the needed community service. Click the picture to see what the writing on the balloon reads. |
| One picture (in this case a sign) says it all! |
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