The Merrillville Rotary Club made Thanksgiving happier for numerous area needy families recently by donating 50 turkeys to St. Clare Health Clinic in Crown Point that were distributed to clients. Club members raised $545 to purchase the items from the Strack and Van Til store in Crown Point, which provided them at cost. Shown receiving a donation from club president Mary Wright (right) is client Nicole Schuhrke, of Griffith, along with her sons, Jaxon Martin, 1, (left) and Nikolai Martin, 3. Schuhrke said she was “very grateful” for the chance to give her family a better holiday, adding, “I’m glad the kids can see that there are good people around and that all people aren’t bad.” Also shown (from left) are Julie Mallers, clinic family nurse practitioner and manager; Laura Mannion, secretary of the Rotary board of directors; Jim Larsen, Rotary and Franciscan Alliance Foundation board member; and Ken Buczek, Rotary member. Larsen said this year was the fourth the club has made such a contribution to the clinic, adding, “We do this because we like to help people in need in the community.” St. Clare, since 1996, has provided free health and various other services to underprivileged residents in six area counties. The clinic is under the auspices of Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point. For more information, call (219) 663-2160.