Our Story
Working Towards a Better Tomorrow Through Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service
WE ARE THE RURITANS
The Nokesville Ruritan Club is celebrating its 75th year of service to the community. A few years ago, it added “Bristow” to its name to recognize the growing area and reach out to new neighbors and schools to encourage them to join its mission of service to others.
The Ruritans provide financial support to veterans organizations, needy families at Thanksgiving or Christmas, hurricane/disaster relief projects, youth organizations and scholarships. They also enjoy hands-on work! Members participate in the Adopt-A-Highway and Adopt-A-Stream programs to clean along a stretch of Aden Rd. in Nokesville and Broad Run near Linton Hall Rd./Sudley Manor Dr., respectively. Several members volunteer in a church food pantry, help the BDHS concession stand by cooking burgers and hot dogs during its two biggest football games. Others have turned out to flip pancakes and man the serving line for the BDHS band boosters, supported other school fundraising events over the years and most recently cooked for a fundraiser for the 2018 Nokesville Community Christmas Parade.
The Ruritans have encouraged Rudy Youth and Ruri-Teens to form in T. Clay Wood ES, Cedar Point ES, Marsteller MS and Patriot HS. These wonderful young people have done amazing things on their own to help fellow students and others in their community and beyond through hands-on work and fundraising for their projects. Some projects are/have been: Bingo nights at Arbor Terrace, DIY toys for Manassas Animal Shelter, blessings bags for the homeless, lunch bags for homeless teens, Wreaths Across America, clipped coupons for soldiers., filled Christmas stockings. They always make the “experienced” Ruritans wonder, “Why didn’t we think of that?”
But that’s the whole point of bringing in the next generation of those who want to serve their community! They bring fresh ideas and fresh ways to help.
The Nokesville-Bristow Ruritan Club raises money primarily through the Brunswick Stew and Fall Festival on the fourth Saturday in October; this year it’s on Oct. 27. Its other big fundraiser is tent, tables and chairs rental, which people use for graduations, weddings, reunions and other special events. Members set up and take down at the client’s convenience.
The Ruritan Club is always looking for new members and we realize other service organizations are too. We do a lot but we don’t expect everyone to do everything! We invite you to our dinner meeting on the second Thursday of the month at Windy Knoll Farm (www.windyknollfarm.com) at 7PM to check us out.
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2018 Officers:
Dale Burke-President
Rick McMahon-Vice President
Gail Williams-Secretary
John Kelly-Treasurer
Catherine Melusen-Director
Jeanette Kaid-Director
Alan Thomas-Director