More than 15 community organizations shared more than $12,000 in financial aid which was distributed recently by the Gloucester Rotary Club. 

Club president Henry Moncure presented checks to representatives of four of the organizations during a recent Rotary luncheon held at Olivia’s in the Village. The club also presented $7,000 in scholarships to graduates of Gloucester High School, with $4,950 going to the Rotary International Foundation.

Organizations receiving gifts included VersAbility Resources, the Laurel Shelter, Gloucester-Mathews Care Clinic, Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society, Gloucester Samaritan Group, the Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, Bread for Life Food Pantry, Boy Scout Troop 111, Gloucester Girl Scouts, Southeastern Correctional Ministries, the Gazette-Journal’s Newspapers in Education program and Peasley Middle School for its Snack Pack program and Future Problem Solvers team.

According to GRC spokesperson Bob Marble, Page Middle School also received support for its Robotics team, which was in national competition. He said the GRC also supported Shelterbox USA. 

Marble said the club’s scholarships to GHS graduates included $1,000 each to Brittany Haywood, Madison Hogge and Bailey Miller, plus a $1,000 renewable scholarship for four years to Mitchell Haraburda. 

The GRC also paid $1,000 for two local high school students to attend the 26th annual Chesapeake Bay Conference, which was held last week at Christchurch School in Middlesex. Marble said the attendees are sponsored by clubs in Rotary District 7610, which paid $500 for each student selected from the different areas of the state to attend the conference.

Marble said major annual fundraisers that helped support the GRC and its giving over the past year have included its annual pig roasts, golf tournaments and other activities.