Grand Lake Rotary preparing for Stuff the Bus, annual cornhole tournament

The Grand Lake Rotary Club is preparing for two August events aimed at helping local students and supporting future community projects.

Grand Lake Rotary members Jim Hyatt and Amy Brinkman joined WCSM’s Spectrum program to discuss the club’s upcoming Stuff the Bus school-supply drive and its sixth annual cornhole tournament.

Stuff the Bus will be held Saturday, August 8, beginning at 8 a.m. in front of the Celina Walmart. Rotary members will collect supplies that will be distributed to students at Celina Elementary School.

Requested items include two-pocket folders, pink erasers, pointed scissors, number two pencils, crayons, glue, facial tissues, markers, backpacks, carry bags, glue sticks, black and blue pens and zippered pencil pouches. Shoppers will be able to pick up a list from Rotary members outside the store, and volunteers will also be available to help people shop.

Brinkman said the community has consistently supported the project and the club hopes to once again fill the school bus with supplies for local children.

The club’s sixth annual cornhole tournament will follow on Saturday, August 15. Registration begins at 10 a.m., with games starting at 11 a.m. The event is scheduled to continue until 5 p.m. under the tent near the Hot Water Hole, rain or shine.

The tournament will feature two-player teams, with registration costing $25 per team. Teams are guaranteed six games, followed by a double-elimination format after the first four games.

The event will also include food, beverages, entertainment, a 50-50 drawing, face painting, inflatables and other activities for children. Traditions of Rockford will provide many of the children’s activities.

Cash prizes will be awarded during the tournament, including $200 for the winning team and prizes for second and third place. Additional cash prizes will also be available through side events.

Money raised through the cornhole tournament will go into Grand Lake Rotary’s general fund, which supports projects throughout the community.

Hyatt and Brinkman explained that Grand Lake Rotary has supported projects involving Celina City Schools, Tri Star scholarships, suicide prevention, local walking paths, shelter houses, benches, blood drives, the Mercer County Fairgrounds chapel, overseas medical supplies and free fire alarms distributed through the Celina Fire Department.

The club also helped create the Grand Lake Rotary Walkway along the lake’s West Bank and has supported projects involving the Ohio Food Bank, Hand Up Village and the St. Marys Art Center.

Grand Lake Rotary is part of Rotary International, which supports humanitarian programs involving education, literacy, clean water, maternal and child health, disaster response, disease prevention and the worldwide effort to eradicate polio.

The local club welcomes new members and meets each Thursday at 7 a.m. Meetings include breakfast, club business, community speakers and opportunities for members to discuss local projects.

Anyone interested in learning more about the organization can attend a meeting or contact the Grand Lake Rotary Club through its Facebook page.