Greenwood Elementary School Sponsors First EarlyAct Project

Local Students to Help Families in Nicaragua

March 8, 2023

HAMILTON, NJ (MERCER)–A new EarlyAct service club for students at Greenwood Elementary School is raising funds to provide nutritious food for those in need in Nicaragua.

The 4th grade students are collecting change to be combined with other funds to support a Rotary International project that provides “aquaponics” kits to help families and schools grow fresh vegetables and fish.

The collection campaign will begin on Monday, March 11 and continue through May 17.

“The students are collecting loose change to make a positive change for others,” said Greenwood Elementary School Advisor John Malloy. “It’s a lesson in geography, science and most importantly, caring.”

The EarlyAct Club at Greenwood Elementary School is the second one to be established in Hamilton Township in the past three months. Wilson Elementary School launched its EarlyAct Club in December and is also participating in the Nicaragua project. Both clubs are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton.

In a ceremony on Friday, March 8, the Greenwood EarlyAct club oﬃcially installed its oﬃcers – President Brittany Ramirez; Vice Presidents Daleisa Pineda and Mahina Nayyar; Recording Secretary Pann Aung; Corresponding Secretary Naomi Moore; and Treasurer Mimi Hall.

On hand at the ceremony were Greenwood Principal Dr. Nicole Dickens-Simon, Advisor John Malloy, Social Coordinator Aysha Ahmad, and members of the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton, including Club President George Ott and Club EarlyAct Lead Coordinator Kalpana Patel.

“Greenwood Elementary School is pleased to oﬀer its young scholars the opportunity to participate with the service-learning EarlyAct Club in partnership with the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton,” said Greenwood Principal Dickens-Simon. “The mission and vision of the EarlyAct Club seamlessly aligns with our Greenwood Core Values of integrity, responsibility, perseverance, and empathy. We are grateful for the leadership of Mrs. Kalpana Patel, of the Rotary Club and on-site orchestration of Mr. John Malloy, Greenwood Elementary School Advisor.”

A Greenwood flyer announcing the Nicaragua project notes that “every penny, nickel, dime and quarter collected will be donated to this very worthwhile cause. Together, we can help change the world.”

The change collected by the EarlyAct clubs will be included in the $2,500 committed to the project by the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton.

The funds will be part of an overall $40,000 Rotary Global grant to fund aquaponics fish and garden tanks for up to 60 families and schools in the region of Ciudad Sandino, near Managua, Nicaragua. The systems provide tilapia fish and a variety of vegetables to improve the nutrition and diet of adults and children.

EarlyAct engages students in character-building activities and prepares them for leadership roles. Students learn to identify and carry out service projects that improve the quality of life in their local community and beyond.

The EarlyAct program was established in 1997 by the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton, then known as the Rotary Club of Hamilton/Washington. The first EarlyAct Club was formed at Morgan Elementary School in Hamilton and the concept became popular around the world with EarlyAct clubs being established as far away as Australia and Africa.

For more on the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton, visit rhrotary.org.

Greenwood Principal Dr. Nicole Dickens-Simon congratulates the EarlyAct officers and the school’s scholars for their participation in the Nicaragua project.

EarlyAct officers stand with (rear left to right) Advisor John Malloy, Rotarian Paul Neu, Greenwood Principal Dr. Nicole Dickens-Simon, Rotary Club President George Ott and Rotary EarlyAct Lead Coordinator Kalpana Patel.