Rotary Club of Reno volunteers join with Holland & Hart LLC, Reno Municipal Court for Rotary Alley playground project at Volunteers of America’s Family Shelter

(Reno, Nevada) – The children staying at the Volunteers of America Family Shelter will be enjoying healthy, outdoor exercise this spring thanks to the efforts of the Rotary Club of Reno, which is creating a safe-and-secure multi-use play area adjacent to the shelter on the Reno Community Assistance Center campus.

 “With ‘service above self’ as our Rotary International commitment, we could not think of a better service then to provide a safe play area for children dealing with difficult situations,” said Susanne Sadler, spokeswoman for the Rotary Club of Reno. “We want to give the children in the shelter environment a place to just be kids while their parents develop plans and skills for the future.”

 In collaboration with volunteers from Holland & Hart LLC and the Reno Municipal Court, the Rotary Club of Reno will begin work Saturday, April 30, when the 30-member community work force is scheduled to deliver and erect basketball hoops for “Rotary Alley” between 9 a.m. and noon. Additional work to paint activity templates for such games as hopscotch, hangman and checkers – all designed by Sadler – is set for May 6 (schedule TBA) and 7 (9 a.m.-noon).

Also among the tasks on May 7’s schedule, is the painting of a mural led by Reno Municipal Court Administrator Matt Fisk that will feature the handprints of the more than 40 children currently in residence at the homeless shelter.

A barbecue lunch for volunteers and shelter residents, hosted by the Rotary Club of Reno and assisted by Reno Mayor Robert Cashell and Washoe County District Attorney Richard A. Gammick, will follow.

Through thousands of human service programs nationwide, Volunteers of America helps nearly 2 million people in more than 400 communities.

Its ministry of service supports and empowers America’s most vulnerable groups, including former foster youth, seniors, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions.

In its recent merger with ReStart Inc., Volunteers of America has expanded its range of services in Northern Nevada to include mental health and homeless prevention/rapid re-housing services.

For more information about Volunteers of America, go online at www.volunteersofamerica-nv.org, call 775.322.7143, or email sisham@voa-nv.org.

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Media contacts:

Sandy Isham, Volunteers of America Community Relations Officer

775.322.7143 (office); 775.560.7888 (cell); sisham@voa-nv.org

Susanne Sadler, Rotary Club of Reno spokeswoman

862.432.8324; sue.sadler@xtralis.com