Rotarian Russ Blue Gave the Program at Rotary’s Most Recent Meeting

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Russ gave us history and background information on Samaritan Partners of Hardin County, formally the Hardin County Society for Crippled Children and Adults. The society was organized on September 26, 1945 by the Kenton and Ad Rotary Clubs. Not much history survives until 1958 when the following board members were serving: Allan Seiler, Dale Sherman, Clara Radway, Dr. Calvin Jackson, Bernard Cavin, Ward Sisters, Clayton Kritzler, John Ramge, all volunteers. The current Board of Directors are Russ Blue, President– Jim Ramge, Vice-President—Cindy Keller, Secretary, Treasurer position currently open, Barbara Baird, Amy Bahr, Andy Diller, Melissa Humble, Bill Keller, Jodi Tudor and recently retired Secretary- Treasurer Joyce Rodgers.

Mailing of a yearly solicitation letter was the only way donations were collected in the early years and just about the only source of income for the group. Recently a donation of farm land has greatly increased the ability to give (58 acres of land on Co. Rd. 130). The society started crop sharing with a couple of local farmers and this has been a huge funding resource yearly. Today, assistance requests are applied for through the Hardin County Health Department. The directors receive the requests and bring them to the board for approval. The directors over the years have been Clara Radway, Portia Phillips, Cindy Keller, and Melissa Humble.

Some of the various assistance requests that we have filled over the past several years were laptops to several local students to assist with home and school studies, a pool lift for a young man in Forest, a prosthetic eye for a young lady in Ridgeway and ramp building assistance for those how are in need.

As requests the last few years have slowed down we decided to share some of our funds with other groups that are always in need of assistance and appreciate a helping hand. In 2022at Christmas time the Partners gave out some very nice contributions to the Chad Roof Inclusive Park, Amvets Riders for ramp projects, MRDD Early Intervention Program, Shop with a Cop, S.O.U.P. Angel’s for the Elderly, God’s Life Line, Helping Hands, and Love INC.

For over 78 years many ill and handicapped individuals of Hardin County have benefited thanks to the group.