Cover of Rotary Club of Dearborn’s “Let’s Cook” 2020-2021 cookbook.
DEARBORN – How do you raise funds during a pandemic? That is a question Dearborn Rotary posed for its members.
“Due to the pandemic we were unable to hold our club’s large annual fundraisers that include the Archer golf outing, Santa Snaps workshop at the Wayne County Lightfest, and our January concert with the Henry Ford College Big Band,” said Rick Goward, the club’s fundraising director. “When we surveyed our membership, the number one response was, ‘Let’s do a cookbook’.”
Within a couple of weeks, they received 133 recipes from members, family and friends of Dearborn Rotary, including U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell; Judges Gene Hunt and Miriam Bazzi; Dearborn City Council members Susan Dabaja, Leslie Herrick and Brian O’Donnell; Dearborn City Clerk George Darany; and Henry Ford College Music Director Kevin Dewey.
Rotarian Bob Ziolkowski was responsible for editing and organizing the recipes while Rotarian Angie Linder designed the cover and layout as well as set up the club’s website for online purchases and donations.
Goward used his persuasive skills to solicit sponsors to help cover the printing costs.
The cookbook includes a variety of traditional American and international recipes in the categories of appetizers, breads, cookies and candies, deserts, main dishes, soups and salads, and veggies and side dishes.
According to Goward additional donations are also welcome. Monies raised from the cookbook sales will be used throughout the year for Dearborn Rotary scholarship programs and community service projects, both locally and internationally.
The Rotary Club of Dearborn is taking online orders for “Let’s Cook” at https://dearbornrotary.square.site. Order requests can also be emailed to Goward at [email protected] The cost for each cookbook is $20. Deliveries are scheduled to begin Dec. 7.
“These will make great holiday gifts or stocking stuffers,” Goward said.
Founded in 1923, the Rotary Club of Dearborn is the city’s oldest service organization and is a proud member of Rotary International bringing 1.2 million members in over 34,000 individual clubs together to live the motto of “Service Above Self.”
For more information and how to join, go to www.DearbornRotary.org.