Rotary will host Haiti volunteer

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The North Shore Rotary Club will host a public reception for Haiti volunteer Julie Blackaller beginning at 4:30 p.m. March 18 at Superior Shores Resort in Two Harbors.

Blackaller volunteers with repeated trips to help orphans in Haiti. The public is invited to hear her story since the earthquake struck in January.

Blackaller, who lives in of Rice Lake, Wis., left her teaching career to work with the some of the poorest of the poor in a small orphanage founded by Servants of All Ministry. She and others use personal funds and those raised from groups like the North Shore Rotary and Two Harbors Credit Union to directly benefit the orphans they serve.

Money provided by the Rotary allowed for a structural engineer to fly to Haiti after the quake to assess damage and determine what was to be done before children and staff could return.

Blackaller remained with the children despite increasing danger until she was finally air-lifted out. Now she comes to thank members of the North Shore Rotary Club and the employees of the Two Harbors Federal Credit Union for the contributions they made.

The reception is open to the public with no charge. Blackaller will meet informally with those attending and provide a short presentation on the work she and others are doing in Haiti. Free appetizers and a cash bar will be available.

Tags: two harbors, rotary, community, haiti