Bunnie Clark Treasures Her Chance To Give Back

When she travels to Glen Burnie, she’s known as the casserole queen. In Pasadena, she’s known as the treasurer of the Lake Shore-Severna Park Rotary Club and the Venice on the Bay Civic Association.

Wherever she goes, Bunnie Clark enjoys helping people in need.

She first heard about Rotary when her two stepsons attended meetings as part of their work with Chesapeake High School’s Interact Club. When her husband, John, became a Rotarian, Clark also got involved.

“What appealed to me was giving back to the community and to others,” she said. “Rotary is all about service above self — that’s the motto. It’s like-minded people.”

While she has her hand in the pot of many Rotary functions, she is most involved with making meals for the homeless and supporting children through the backpack program.

On the second Wednesday of every month, Clark and a few other Rotarians serve meals at the Salvation Army in Glen Burnie. Clark and Carolyn Wisthoff alternate meal-making responsibilities, and Clark is known for her casseroles and salads.

“They’re always thankful,” she said of the homeless men and women. “Being the person who’s cooking, it’s nice to see people coming back for seconds and thirds,” she said with a laugh.

Her other Rotary project, the weekend backpack program, also involves meals.

“Counselors identify kids on the free meals program at school,” she explained. “They don’t get free lunch on the weekend, so we help with that, so they might get something like spaghetti as a weekend dinner.”

Clark has been a Rotary member for nine years, as the treasurer for eight, and she helped out in an unofficial capacity beforehand. She has been a driver for Partners In Care for about eight years.

“You meet some interesting people because they’re sitting next to you while you drive,” she said. “There’s a lot of conversation. I like that it’s an organization that helps people who remain in their homes as long as possible.”

To continue their mission of serving others, Rotary members welcome support at the Maryland Renaissance Festival on October 20. The beer stands will be manned by one employee and a bunch of volunteers collecting tips for their charitable organizations. The Lake Shore-Severna Park Rotary Club is one of those groups.

For more information about Rotary and volunteer opportunities, go to www.rotarycluboflakeshore.org or find “Lake Shore-Severna Park Rotary” on Facebook.