Middleboro / Lakeville Rotary Club in our 55th Year of Community ServiceThis year marks the 55th anniversary of our Middleboro / Lakeville Rotary Club, and we’re proud to continue our tradition of service with a meaningful update to a long-standing project. Twenty-four years ago, we donated a picnic table to the Conservation Committee for use at Pratt Farm, one of our local conservation areas, to offer a welcoming spot for visitors. In conversations with the Middleborough Conservation Commission last fall we discussed the disrepair the picnic table was in and agreed it was time to replace it.
On Wednesday, July 2nd, in partnership with the local Conservation Commission, we dedicated that new replacement picnic table … this time designed to be handicap accessible so that more members of our community can enjoy the space.
The ceremony was a celebration not only of the table, but of the Rotary’s ongoing commitment to community service.
Photo, Left to Right: Mimi Duphily, Penny Quackenbush, Matt Bruce - President, Darren Vasa - Conservation land mgr., Nancy Ockers - Conservation Commission chair, Steve Quevillon, Keri Gallagher - Conservation Commission 2nd V.P., Willy Duphily ... not shown Quack
The Middleboro/Lakeville Rotary Club proudly supported the 41st annual Bike MS: Cape Cod Getaway - the largest Bike MS event in New England - by volunteering at a key rest stop in Middleboro. Eight dedicated Rotarians staffed the refreshment station at Byrnes Sand & Gravel on Saturday, June 28th, offering drinks, snacks, and encouragement to more than 100 riders.
In Middleboro, service isn’t just an idea … it’s a tradition.
The Middleboro/Lakeville Rotary Club is thrilled to see the community's continued enthusiasm in supporting literacy and learning for local children. Once again, a caring individual answered the club's call for kids' books, generously donating three full boxes of a diverse selection to fill the nine Little Book Boxes placed throughout the area. These contributions ensure that children in the community always have access to engaging stories, fostering a love for reading and exploration.
The Middleboro/Lakeville Rotary Club has once again demonstrated its dedication to community improvement by revitalizing the John F. Glass Square “Island" it has adopted in Middleboro. Rotarians gathered together, armed with gardening tools and a shared passion for beautification, to clean up the area, plant vibrant flowers, and spread fresh mulch. Their efforts transformed the space into a welcoming, picturesque spot, reinforcing the club’s commitment to fostering a sense of pride and care in the community. The cleanup was not just about aesthetics, it was about creating a space that residents could appreciate, a symbol of unity and the positive impact of collective action.
We recently gave notice on FB that we were in need of kids books for our Little Book Boxes we've 'planted' in our community ... and, we would like to sincerely thank Samantha Derochers, a remarkable teenager, for her generous contribution! By donating several boxes of her favorite books, she has shown a genuine commitment to sharing the joy of reading with others. Her thoughtful gift will help us restock and refresh the books available and expand the selection in our eight book boxes scattered throughout various neighborhoods in Middleboro and Lakeville. This will make it possible for more people to enjoy and benefit from free access to books. Her kindness reflects the values of community and 'Service before Self' that we strive to promote.
The Rotary Club of Middleboro is proud to support Austin Card, a fifth-grade student at Mary K. Goode School. Austin is one of four outstanding students nominated by his teacher, Mr. James O'Brien, to represent their school and community at the prestigious Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. This program is designed to cultivate leadership skills, providing participants with invaluable experiences that include interaction with distinguished professionals and networking opportunities with future leaders.
Our very own Rotarian, Marjorie Dunn-Lackie, is one proud mom after her son stood up in front of a nearly sold out crowd in Boston at the Celtics game to sing the National Anthem in honor of Autism Acceptance Night. The culmination of a journey that started 8 years ago. You can watch his fantastic performance on 
We'd like to thank all of our amazing sponsors, donors, and bidders for helping to make this year's auction a tremendous success!! Thank you all for your support!! Nearly 150 items in our auction from roughly 90 donors, all but 3 items received bids and we have 49 winning bidders. Congratulations!! And THANK YOU for supporting the Rotary Club of Middleboro Charitable and Educational Foundation!!
We began as always with the Pledge, then an invocation followed by the reading of the Four Way Test. Though we were missing some members, including our President who was on a business trip, we addressed several agenda items, voting when necessary and received an update from Cherie our secretary on our annual Auction, which concludes today, Saturday 22 March 2025!
The Middleboro Rotary Club recently demonstrated the power of community collaboration by answering the call of Debbie Walgreen, Librarian @ John T. Nichols, Jr. Middle School. We were asked about refurbishing the school's very worn little book box, and our club members Steve Quevillon and Quack eagerly accepted the challenge. They removed the book box, dedicating numerous hours to its restoration (in a cold garage!) which included sanding and constructing a new door. The following day Nicole, our member Steve Q's wife, painted the Book Box. After their diligent efforts, the rejuvenated book box, now proudly sporting that fresh coat of paint in the school's colors, was reinstalled 4 March 2025. Steve, Quack and Rotarian Penny Quackenbush then re-stocked the Book Box. This act of service not only revitalized the beloved fixture but also highlighted the strong community spirit and commitment to education shared by the Rotary Club and John T. Nichols, Jr. Middle School.
A brief message from our Club Secretary, Cherie Kostant:
Middleboro Rotarian, Penny Quackenbush, joined the Rotary Club of Bourne-Sandwich along with Lasagna Love and students from Upper Cape Voc. on the Cape to help make and bake 46 lasagnas. This was an extension of her Community Service efforts with Lasagna Love, as Pen averages four lasagnas made and delivered (to as far as New Bedford & Fall River) each week for the past year+. 
It took three cold & blustery hours! Jake Quevillon, 17, recently offered his community service hours to help restock the eight little book boxes sponsored by the Middleboro Rotary Club. He visited each book box, rearranged the stock and added books for adults and children.
During each year our Middleboro Rotary donates funds to the Sacred Heart Food Pantry to assist our less fortunate. Then we step up our efforts each year at this time by personally baking Cranberry bread loaves for the Food Pantry for the Holidays. This year our scribe and Cranberry bread coordinator, Bob Saquet of Eggers Furniture, delivered our > 300 Cranberry breads to Dave Cunningham @ Sacred Heart Food Pantry who does one fantastic job providing sustenance to between 300 and 400 families every week...all year long. Our thanks to Dave for all his efforts throughout the year, to our Rotarians for their baking skills and, to Bob for being the engine behind the Giving.
Each year Rotary Club of Middleboro members, as well as family and friends, gather at ‘My Brothers Keeper’ in Dartmouth to select and wrap presents for those who would otherwise not have a Christmas. This year was extra special...
At the start of our meeting on December 4th, President Matt presented a plaque of appreciation to Mike Deering who, along with his wife Erin, owns the Fireside which has hosted our Rotary Club for the past 5 years. Mike and Erin are Middleboro High grads and shared that they are happy to do what they can for our club. We are grateful for Mike and Erin's support, along with the wonderful staff at the Fireside.
Amateur astronomer Mike Renzi of Lakeville is serious about his hobby and was happy to share his story and photos with us at our Dec. 4th meeting. He built his own observatory at his Lakeville home of 17 years. As a ten-year old he was captivated by the movie, “2001, A space odyssey”. The science inspired him to learn coding so he could track the celestial bodies.
Come join us on Saturday, November 23rd, at 12:00pm for the dedication ceremony for our second Rotary Peace Pole that was recently "planted" at Pierce Playground. We hope to see you there!!! Thank you to Willy, Mike and Quack for your efforts. What is a Peace Pole? Read on to find out...
On Saturday 16 November 2024 our Rotary co-Presidents Matt and Emma Bruce and our Area 4 Assistant District Governor J. Kevin Quackenbush visited the Robbins Museum at their annual meeting. We presented their President, Vic Mastone, & V.P. Gregory Lott with a donation check for $250.00 , which will be doubled by a Massachusetts Archaeological Society (MAS) benefactor.
Every year the Rotary Club of Middleboro participates in the Indoor Ride to End Polio. All funds raised are matched 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation in support of Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio from the face of the earth. Thanks to our intrepid team of Rotarians - Sue, our instructor Jodie, Bob, Willy, Matt and Ron - for riding to raise awareness that polio still exists in the world and funds to help Rotary eradicate it.
Community Service ... Our Rotary Club of Middleboro engages in it in many ways all year long. Most recently it was in the clean up & beautification of the John F. Glass memorial island that we adopted.
