The Rotary Club of Westerville is joining with two other stalwart community organizations to support an upcoming event for an important cause.
Rotary Club President Brandy Deichert announced the plan to join in the effort with the Westerville Education Challenge and The Big Bus, in an email to Club members July 8.
The Club will stage a Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive, and incorporate it into the Westerville Education Challenge’s Night of Hope 5K, set for the evening of Aug. 24 at Westerville North.
“Basic needs must be met for students to thrive and hunger should never stand in the way of their success,” Deichert said. “Inspired by the heartfelt concerns of middle school staff about food insecurity, we launched the Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive to take steps to ensure no student worries about their next meal.”
“Together, we can make a significant impact on their lives and create a brighter future for Westerville.”
Deichert said the coordinated effort grew from conversations with Minerva Park Middle School Counselor Jill Huck and Minerva Food Service Manager Lauri Jones. They mentioned a fill the bus food drive, and further conversations with Rotarian Tracy Davidson – also a Westerville school board member and board member for both The Big Bus and Westerville Education Challenge – grew into Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive.
About WEC and Night of Hope
An all-volunteer organization that started in 2009, the Westerville Education Challenge has supported more than 10,000 students through scholarships, mentoring clubs, grants for teachers, programs such as Challenge Day and mental health and wellness initiatives.
More than 1,500 community volunteers and 40 corporate and community sponsors partner with WEC and their contributions include thousands of volunteer hours and more than $400,000 in donations. WEC’s Night of Hope 5K, 1 Miler and Family Fun Run raises funds for a variety of initiatives and programs that support student wellness and mental health in Westerville City Schools, including:
- The Hope Squad suicide prevention program
- Parent Prep workshops
- Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program at the district’s five middle schools
- LINK Crew program, launching at all three high schools this fall
- Care for Twinkle, a district Canine Companions facility dog based at Westerville South High School
- Annual WEC-sponsored scholarships for high school graduates
This year, WEC’s 3rd annual Night of Hope 5K, 1 Miler and Family Fun Run on Aug. 24 will honor those lives lost to suicide, and work to raise mental health awareness in the community. Registration opens at 5:30 p.m., and the 5K begins at 6:45 p.m. Register for the Night of Hope here. More information on the event is available here.
Bring donations to lunch, or the Night of Hope
Rotarians can bring donations to Fill the Big Bus to club luncheons in August, or bring them to pack the actual Big Bus, at the Night of Hope Aug. 24 — which will conclude the food drive.
Requested food items include Ramen noodles, granola bars, fruit snacks, pasta, rice, mac & cheese, mini marshmallows, and instant oatmeal. They will be used to stock the Neighborhood Bridges pantries in Westerville middle schools.
“We look forward to providing the Rotary Club of Westerville’s support for Night of Hope and to filling the Big Bus with food donations,” Deichert said.
The Rotary Club of Westerville
Founded in 1959, the Rotary Club of Westerville is a service club of business professionals and leaders working to improve our community and larger world. We are part of Rotary International. Find out more at WestervilleRotary.com. Contact the Club and learn how to join at www.www.westervillerotary.com/contact-form. Read more about the Rotary International organization at Rotary.org.
Interested in joining?
The Rotary Club of Westerville is accepting applications for new membership.
The best way to pursue membership is to contact an existing Club member, and attend one of our lunches or events as her or his guest. Members of the public also are welcome to attend our events on their own, to see what our service club is all about. If possible, please give notice of your intent to attend a luncheon or social by emailing WestervilleRotaryEvents@gmail.com.
We hope to see you soon!
Contact Us
Rotary Club of Westerville
P.O. Box 595
Westerville, OH 43086-0595
Where We Meet:
The Medallion Club
5000 Club Drive
Westerville, Ohio 43082
When:
Thursdays at noon (with Occasional off-site, evening socials)
Our recent Facebook posts
Rotary Club of Westerville
Founded in 1959, the Rotary Club of Westerville is a service club of business professionals and community leaders working to improve our community and larger world. Part of Rotary International. Find out more at WestervilleRotary.com @rotary6690
The Fill The Big Bus Middle School Food Drive was a huge success! Thanks to a generous Walmart Supercenter Westerville grant, the Rotary Club of Westerville, and donations from our amazing community, 919 pounds of food are being donated to Westerville’s five middle schools to help make sure students have access to food they need.
This truly took a village, and we’re so grateful for everyone who helped make it happen!
Thank you Westerville Education Challenge for letting us partner with you at Night of Hope!
A huge thank you to Amber at Walmart Supercenter Westerville and all of the Rotary volunteers who donated their time and energy to collect, sort, pack, load, and deliver.
Special shoutout to Adam at Jersey Mike’s for providing the boxes we needed to pack it all up.
And a big thank you to Bryan at SME
for letting us borrow his truck to transport the food from Walmart to Westerville North.
We love seeing what can happen when local businesses, community organizations, and neighbors come together for our students. This is Westerville at its best!
Rotary District 6690
During the event, non perishable food can be dropped off to Rotary Club of Westerville and The Big Bus inside the football stadium at Westerville North High School.
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Our new 2026 Foundation Outing, Registration is now open! September 14th is the date to put on your calendar now!
Loyal golfers and attendees,
Registration is now open for our new 2026 Westerville Rotary Foundation Golf Outing held again at the beautiful Medallion Club on Monday, September 14th, 2026
Click on this link to get started!
https://www.golfgenius.com/ggid/ajkhw9
Single player and team registration is open to you and anyone that you might know who wants to join in on the fun day!
Our banner Platinum Sponsor this year is
We have a lot of the same features as last year, including the Drone Ball Drop, sponsored this year by Payne and Brown Insurance 
Our "Rare Bourbon" Raffle, the annual Putting Contest, and a full sleeve of golf balls furnished by Tim Bullock, Edward Jones Westerville.
Also, again this year you have chance to win a new car lease for two years from Krieger Ford
Gold Sponsors this year are: Payne and Brown Insurance, Tim Bullock, Edward Jones Westerville, and Krieger Ford!
Silver Sponsors this year are: Ohio Health and The Dave Read Family Foundation!
The Dave Read Family Foundation
Bronze Sponsors this year include Chick Fil'A Polaris, Go Prime Tours, Moreland Funeral Home, Bud Hoffman, Attorney - Carlile Patchen and Murphy
and Moo Moo Car Wash Systems 
We have a lot of the same features as last year, including the Drone Ball Drop, sponsored this year by Payne and Brown Insurance, the annual Putting Contest, Bourbon Raffle and a full sleeve of golf balls furnished by Tim Bullock, Edward Jones Westerville. Also, again this year you have chance to win a new car lease for two years from Krieger Ford, return of the "Air Gun Shot" on a long par 5, a semi pro shot on a par 3, gifts, door prizes and a lot more!
You can purchase a professionally prepared "Hole Sponsor" signs with your name and/or logo on the sign placed all over the course by clicking on this link: https://square.link/u/QGtexYHq
Some changes this year include, dinner served when you return to the clubhouse, prize tickets placed on prizes so you do not have to wait to find out who won what, ball drop when all players are in on the twin 9's and a great meal prepared after your round by Chef Simon!
Contact us if you have any questions, want to be a sponsor or if you have issues getting registered. Watch for more information to come in your email too!
Please support our sponsors including our Major Sponsors listed above!
We will see you in September!
Wendell McCurdy and Tim Bullock, Co-Chairs
Westerville Rotary Foundation Golf Outing 2026
614-563-0574
wencaptain@wendellmccury.com
Proceeds from the Annual Golf Outing support the Rotary Club of Westerville Foundation and charitable programs of the Rotary Club of Westerville, including our college scholarship program for high school graduates from the Westerville area.