Five Years of Partnership and Progress

For the past five years, Rotarians and Rotary clubs have worked alongside Chinle Planting Hope, a Navajo-led nonprofit serving Chinle and surrounding communities.

The partnership has grown from individual service projects to club and district support and, most recently, a Rotary International Global Grant. Rotarians have contributed funding, supplies, professional expertise and thousands of hours of hands-on service.

During the fifth annual Rotary Service Project, held June 11–13, 2026, 33 Rotarians from 15 clubs in Colorado and Arizona traveled to Chinle. They were joined by 11 family members and friends and 17 Chinle Planting Hope board members, staff members, volunteers and school personnel.

Together, they contributed nearly 800 hours of work. Volunteers traveled more than 21,000 miles and brought donated goods, supplies and in-kind support valued at an estimated $81,667.

They did not come simply to observe. They came ready to work.

Rotary teams installed solar lighting kits at 13 homes without electricity and delivered baskets of food to each household. Other volunteers accompanied senior meal-site staff to deliver food, mattresses and bedding to homebound elders.

More than 2,000 donated books were unpacked and sorted. Nearly 1,000 were cataloged and placed on shelves. Books were also delivered to the hospital for a children’s reading and resource room.

The Chinle Planting Hope Bookmobile now visits 13 schools each week during the school year and brings books to community events and summer reading programs.

The literacy work is continuing to grow in another important way. The Glenwood Springs Sunset Rotary Club introduced the Dollywood Book Program to Chinle Planting Hope and sponsored the first 100 students. Each enrolled child will receive one book every month for three years, helping families build home libraries and making books a regular part of children’s lives.

That first commitment has already multiplied. A private foundation has stepped forward to sponsor an additional 200 children, bringing the program’s reach to 300 young readers.

It is a powerful example of what can happen when Rotary gets a good idea moving. One club’s investment opened the door, another partner recognized the value and hundreds more children will now have books of their own.

Volunteers also planted and expanded the community garden, installed a drip-irrigation system, cleaned and organized the H.O.P.E. Thrift Store, built shelves, painted porches, made repairs and helped with a summer reading celebration for children and families.

Since then, the momentum has continued.

A recent back-to-school literacy event and school-supply distribution drew 175 people. Chinle Planting Hope also received a $250,000 grant to enclose the H.O.P.E. Thrift Store, with an invitation to submit another proposal next year.

The enclosed store will be able to accept donations more consistently and expand its hours. Even while operating only on Fridays, the thrift store has been generating an average of approximately $3,000 a month in earned income.

This is not an organization waiting for someone else to solve its problems. Chinle Planting Hope is building its own path toward long-term sustainability.

Rotary can help strengthen that path.

The Next Step: Keep the Lights On

Rotarians are launching a three-year sustainability campaign to raise $30,000 per year in 2026, 2027 and 2028 for Chinle Planting Hope’s general operating expenses.

General operating support may not sound as exciting as a new vehicle, building or piece of equipment, but it is what allows every program to function.

It pays the basic expenses that keep the organization running. It helps retain staff, maintain facilities, manage programs, coordinate volunteers, apply for grants and respond to community needs.

Those everyday expenses are the foundation beneath every book delivered, every elder served and every child welcomed through the door.

The three-year commitment will give Chinle Planting Hope time to strengthen its earned income, grow its base of monthly and annual donors and continue attracting support from additional grantmakers.

A group of Rotarians from Colorado and Arizona has committed to overseeing the campaign, acknowledging donors and managing the collection and distribution of funds.

The Glenwood Springs Rotary Foundation will serve as the repository for contributions and will send the funds to Chinle Planting Hope when the annual goal is reached or by December 1 of each year. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

How You Can Help

There are several ways Rotarians, clubs and community members can become part of this work.

Support the Keep the Lights On Campaign

Make a one-time contribution, establish a recurring gift or ask your Rotary club to support the campaign.

Checks should be payable to:

Glenwood Springs Rotary Foundation
Attn: CPH Sustainability
P.O. Box 953
Glenwood Springs, CO 81602

To report a pledge or ask questions, contact Debbie Wilde of the Glenwood Springs Rotary Club at debbiewilde@debbiewilde.com or 970-618-0949.

Join a Future Rotary Service Project

Rotarians and their families are invited to participate in future service weekends with Chinle Planting Hope.

There are jobs for many interests and physical abilities, from construction and gardening to literacy projects, organizing donations and visiting with community members.

Contact Debbie Wilde at debbiewilde@debbiewilde.com to be added to the list for future projects.

Help a Child Become a Reader

A contribution of $15 provides one child with a personal subscription to High Five magazine for an entire school year.

Rotarians can also contribute toward the Bookmobile and other literacy efforts. For information about supporting literacy, contact Nancy Flood at wlflood@hotmail.com.

Become a Chinle Planting Hope Donor

Monthly gifts provide the dependable income that allows Chinle Planting Hope to plan ahead. One-time contributions are also welcome.

Information about becoming a sustaining partner or making a donation is available at www.chinleplantinghope.com or by contacting chinleplantinghope@gmail.com.

Invite Others Into the Story

Share the campaign with your Rotary club, foundation committee, friends and community partners. Consider presenting the project during a club meeting, including it in a newsletter or organizing a club contribution.