On Thursday, Dec. 6, several dozen Rotarians and their spouses gathered at Target in Lake Zurich to race around the store, loading their baskets with gifts for 90 children from families in financial need. Spending approximately $35 per child, the members followed each child’s “wish list” to shop for presents, which will be wrapped and given to the parents to give to their children over the holidays. The Barrington and Cuba Township food pantries will coordinate delivery of the gifts to families with identified needs. More than $3,000 for the annual shopping excursion was raised through various Rotary charitable events and grants in 2012. But the shopping spree was not the only demonstration of the club's generosity.

On Tuesday, Dec. 11, the Noon Rotary Club will present more than $37,000 in financial contributions to 18 deserving Barrington-area non-profit groups and charitable funds during its annual holiday luncheon in the Performing Arts Center at the Garlands of Barrington. The funds were raised through several special events and member donations in the past year, including the club’s second-annual community Sock Hop on Oct. 6. Among the presentations will be checks for $10,000 each to both Barrington Youth and Family Services and CareerPlace, which were selected as the primary beneficiaries of the Sock Hop proceeds. Representatives from all 18 organizations will attend the Dec. 6 holiday luncheon to receive their gifts, ranging from a minimum of $500 to the larger amounts designated for Barrington Youth and Family Services and CareerPlace.

The Rotary Club of Barrington was formed and chartered in 1960. There are presently 36 members of the noon club, representing a variety of professions, interests and charitable endeavors in the community.