Congratulations to Stafford students for representing our community at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program at Springfield College. Selected from a competitive applicant pool, these students joined peers from across Connecticut and western Massachusetts for a day of leadership development, team-building, and personal growth.
The Rotary Club proudly celebrated Stafford Elementary School’s Student of the Month honorees, recognizing students who exemplify Rotary’s “Service Above Self” values through kindness, leadership, hard work, and service to others.
Members of the Stafford Rotary Club proudly volunteered their time during the Stafford Community-Wide Clean Up held on Saturday, April 18, 2026, contributing to several projects across town in support of a cleaner and more vibrant community. Throughout the day, Rotarians worked together to clean borough streets of loose trash, helping to enhance the appearance and safety of local roadways.
In addition to cleanup efforts, Rotary members assisted with setting up activities at Hyde Park for the Community-Wide Clean Up and sold Rotary Side-by-Side Raffle tickets outside the Stafford Historical Society. Proceeds from the raffle support the Stafford Rotary Community Fund, which provides funding for local initiatives and community projects.
Later in the day, Rotarians partnered with Stafford’s Playgroup Parents to begin revitalizing the garden at Staffordville School. The space, which had become overgrown following the school’s closure, is now home to the Stafford Family Services Playgroup, held on Tuesdays. Volunteers worked to remove overgrowth and begin restoring the garden so it can once again be a welcoming and usable space for families and children.
A special thank you goes to Aubuchon/Ace Hardware for their generous donation of mulch and garden fencing materials, which have been instrumental in the early stages of the project. While the work is not yet complete, the Rotary Club looks forward to continuing the garden revitalization over the coming month, with the goal of creating a space that can be enjoyed by the entire community.
The Stafford Rotary Club also extends its appreciation to the individuals and groups who originally established the garden. Their efforts laid the foundation for a meaningful community space, and Rotary is honored to help continue that legacy so it may be enjoyed by future generations.
Our Interact Club members and advisors attended the Rotary District 7890 Interact Conference in Holyoke, where they presented their club’s work, connected with other students, and participated in a service project packaging meals for local food pantries.
The Rotary Club of Stafford is currently hosting two fundraising initiatives to support the local community: a Side-By-Side Raffle featuring prizes provided by Wicked Powersports and Aubuchon Ace Hardware of Stafford, and the Stafford School Lunch Debt Relief Fund to help families struggling with student meal balances. Both efforts aim to bring the community together to support local families and ensure students have the resources they need to succeed.
The Rotary Club of Stafford recently held a meeting at LuAnn’s Bakery & Café where members gathered with community partners to honor the legacy of Anthony 'Tony' Scussel through a scholarship donation and present support to Flo’s Friendship Kitchen, continuing the club’s commitment to serving the Stafford community.
A snapshot of a year defined by service, teamwork, and community pride, highlighting the Rotary Club of Stafford’s impact throughout 2025.
The Rotary Club of Stafford welcomed the Stafford Garden Club for an evening of shared community spirit, collaboration, and support as both groups work to keep the town vibrant and beautiful.
Service Above Self
Stafford Springs, CT 06076
United States of America