On October 17, 2026, the Melissa Rotary Club joined the festivities at Cardinal Renaissance Academy’s First Annual Cardinal Faire fundraiser. What a fantastic event it was! With hundreds of people in attendance, the day was filled with excitement, laughter, and community spirit. It was truly a Fun(d) Raiser!
Our Rotary booth featured a Nerf gun shooting gallery. While it may not have been very Renaissance-like, it was certainly a big hit! Seven Rotarians, three high school Interact members, and two Rotary family volunteers teamed up to keep the fun going. For nearly the entire three-hour event, we had a line of eager young participants waiting for their turn.
Everyone was a winner! Participants who hit the four-inch moving targets could choose a prize or some Halloween candy. Those who didn't quite hit their mark after six tries still got to choose a treat from our Halloween candy bucket. And don't underestimate these young sharpshooters! One seven-year-old managed to hit four out of seven targets, while several others hit three. Overall, more than one-third of our participants hit at least one moving target!
We had a wonderful time connecting with the community while introducing more people to the Melissa Rotary Club. We even had the opportunity to talk with several attendees about joining Rotary and participating in our Flag Lease program. One of the memorable parts of the day was discovering that teaching little ones how to aim and shoot a Nerf gun can be an adventure all on its own!
It was a wonderful day filled with fellowship, laughter, and community spirit! A big thank-you to Cardinal Renaissance Academy (CRA) and its PTA for hosting such a fantastic event and allowing Melissa Rotary to join in the fun. We look forward to many more opportunities to serve our community, make a difference, and create lasting memories along the way!