Penny Quackenbush, a member of the Middleboro/Lakeville Rotary Club, also volunteers with Lasagna Love, a national organization whose volunteers purchase ingredients, prepare homemade lasagnas, and deliver them to anyone who requests one. Inspired by that mission, Penny proposed hosting a community “Lasagna Night,” inviting her Rotarians, friends, and neighbors to come together and make a large batch of meals for local families.
Pictured L to R ... Valerie Doran, Greg Stevens, Willy Duphily, Pen, Mimi Duphily, Jim Tucker, Elisa Maiolino, JeriAnn Tucker, Gale Gaffney, Kiaralyn Lyons, Q, Crystal Lyons, Peter Regas
In another display of community partnership, the Middleboro/Lakeville Rotary Club has officially donated a state-of-the-art drone to Middleborough Community Cable Access Media (MCCAM). Director of Media Technology Karen Foye noted that this high-tech addition to MCCAM’s arsenal marks a significant upgrade in how our town’s stories are told. By providing the tools for high-definition aerial cinematography, the Rotary Club is ensuring that our local cable station can capture the vibrant spirit of our community from perspectives heretofore not possible.
THE AUCTION IS HERE!!!
Every year the Rotary Club of Middleboro participates in the Indoor Ride to End Polio, and this October was no different. Earlier this year, on October 22nd, in conjunction with World Polio Day (October 24, 2025), a group of Rotarians met up at the Old Colony YMCA in Middleboro to Ride to End Polio.
This year we are supporting the Lakeville Animal Shelter at the 2nd Annual Snowperson Jubilee, and the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Middleboro at the 3rd Annual Snowperson Soiree.
The Middleboro/Lakeville Rotary Club recently honored longtime member and community leader Bob Saquet with a surprise retirement celebration at the Fireside Restaurant. Bob, owner of Eggers Furniture, has devoted 60 years to the furniture industry, guiding the nearly 200-year-old Middleboro institution for the past 46 years. A respected and active Rotarian for 45 years, Bob has played a vital role in both business and civic life, also serving as Mansfield’s Town Moderator for more than 34 years and currently sitting on the Board of Directors for the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.
This September, the Middleboro/Lakeville Rotary was honored to welcome a bright young student, Austin Card from Mary K. Goode Elementary School, who recently returned from a transformative educational journey to Washington, D.C.
The Middleboro / Lakeville Rotary Club typically awards four to five scholarships annually, made possible through the generous efforts of its members and community support of our annual auction. These scholarship opportunities are for any students living in Middleboro or Lakeville. We send applications to Middleborough High School, Apponequet Regional High School, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School, Bristol County Agricultural High School and Old Rochester Regional High School. 
Middleboro / Lakeville Rotary Club in our 55th Year of Community Service
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
