The El Cajon Rotary granted $10,000, plus a Matching District Grant of $4000, to support of the Salvation Army's new community center, in 2020. Specifically, the club’s donation offset the equipment costs for their new kitchen. The equipment and hood were key components of this new kitchen. The new kitchen will support senior, youth, and family programs.
The Salvation Army's new building and kitchen plans to provide classes to teach seniors and other Food Bank clients how to make healthy meals with the emergency food they receive through our food bank. This kitchen will be used during the Salvation Army's annual free Thanksgiving and Christmas Community meals, which will serve the large low-income senior population in our community. They serve 120-130 seniors daily through the various programs offered.
The total cost of the new kitchen hood and related equipment was $42,248.00. The El Cajon Rotary authorized $10,000 out of the club’s endowment funds. Specifically, the money was granted from the Club’s “Willie Carroll Fund.”
The Willie Carroll Fund was established as a true endowment fund through a gift of the Willie Carroll Family through Past-president and Rotarian William Elliot. The fund was designed to benefit senior programs. The $10,000 grant and District matching grant of $4000 were gifted for the purchase kitchen equipment and exhaust hood over the stove. As appreciation for the grant the Salvation Army placed a plaque on the kitchen hood recognizing the El Cajon Rotary’s contribution.