Rotary projects around the globe – August 2026
Learn how Rotary clubs are taking action in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Thailand.
by Brad Webber
31 Jul 2026
United States
After a popular home improvement show turned its cameras on Sebring, the small city in south central Florida saw an influx of tourists seeking to experience the bucolic charms depicted in HGTV’s Home Town Takeover program. There was just one problem: The area lacked a loo for the lookie-loos. In April, the Rotary Club of Sebring opened a public restroom off the town circle after a monthslong construction project. “Having safe, functional restrooms with climate control, changing stations, and disabled accessibility seemed like a no-brainer,” says club member Debra Weiser. Club members offered pro bono professional services for engineering, construction, air conditioning, and other electrical work; another painted the structure at a discount, and Rotarian city officials sped permit approvals and fee waivers.
Canada
The annual used book sale of the Rotary Club of Sarnia-Bluewaterland in Ontario has been a fixture for more than 25 years. “We all realized we were in this because we loved books, we wanted to encourage others in the community to access great books at a reasonable price, and, yes, it was a wonderful way to generate funds to support local nonprofits,” says coordinator Dale Wilcox. In January, the sale raised more than US$42,000, with leftover books being distributed to several organizations and groups, including a Canadian Armed Forces unit stationed in Latvia. “Troops are already digging into the massive collection and finding a good book to keep at their bedside or take into the field,” Lt. Col. Colleen Grebstad reported in a letter to the club.
8
Public restrooms per 100,000 people in the U.S.10,000+
Books published annually by Canadian companies
United Kingdom
When members of the Rotary Club of Borderlands (Passport Group) heard about the PolioPlus Society Kennel Klub, they excitedly enrolled their furry friends. An extension of the district-led PolioPlus Society, the Kennel Klub allows pets (well, their owners) to pledge at least $100 per year to PolioPlus and, in return, receive a pet-purrfect red End Polio Now bandana. “The Kennel Klub welcomes animals of any kind,” says Borderlands club member Beth Thomson, “and whilst ours are mainly dogs, there is a pet sheep (a Swiss Valais Blacknose) in there too!” The club, chartered in 2023, has 100 percent PolioPlus Society membership, donating about $5,500 per year to the cause. While the club hasn’t brought the pets to its breakfast meetings — “I suspect it would be a recipe for chaos,” Thomson says — it did persuade Past RI President Gordon McInally (whose wife, Heather, was the club’s 2025-26 president) to sit for a photo shoot with Kennel Klub idols Mabel, Angus, Applepip, Tess, Todd, Cora, and Fleet.
Thailand
Golf ball drops using cranes or drones might be ubiquitous, but the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai International, in a lush, hilly northern province of Thailand, takes it to new heights. In the sixth edition of its charity ball drop on 31 January, the club hoisted a tethered hot-air balloon to launch 300 labeled golf balls onto a green. Balls landing nearest, or in, the hole garnered gift vouchers. This year’s event netted about $4,000 for the club’s projects for children. While the drop is only a minor fundraiser for the club in terms of receipts, “the event attracts a lot of attention in our community and worldwide and is a good contact point for new donors and new members,” says club member John Schorr.
This story originally appeared in the August 2026 issue of Rotary magazine.