Flora Rotary Club has given $2,100 to a Rotary district project called the Mexico Initiative.

Claude Johnson of the Crawfordsville Rotary Club and chairman of the project, visited the Flora Rotary Club last Thursday. He praised the generous donation from the relatively small club.

The project provides for the purchase of old, but still good, fire trucks for Mexico, where they are badly needed.

"We have delivered nine so far, and have four more to go," Johnson said. He added that the trucks are sent with fire gear and related small equipment.

Johnson said in areas where the fire trucks have been delivered, they previously had to let fires go. Now fires are being fought and lives are being saved, he said.

Also attending last week's meeting was Carlos Rodriguez, a Rotarian from the Mexico City area. This sister district in Mexico also contributes to the fire truck project.

Rodriguez works with the project and other humanitarian efforts in his Rotary district.

He said his district has 98 clubs and 1,100 Rotarians. Johnson said Rotary District 6560, which includes Crawfordsville and Flora, just has 45 clubs.

Rodriguez recognized the dedication of Johnson and others, saying that it is not easy getting fire trucks to Mexico.

Rodriguez told about other Rotarian "Heart to Heart Projects." He said the projects are so named because "Mexico City is the heart of my country."

He listed such projects as river clean-up, water treatment, goal of one lap top per child for the educational system, and books for parents on "How to Protect Your Child Against Drugs."

Rodriguez is a member of Club Rotario Las Torres Satelite. He is matching grant chairman for District 4170. In his professional life, he is an accountant.

He said he has been visiting and thanking Rotary clubs that have helped with the fire truck project, and Flora Rotary was the fifth club he visited last week.