"The Rotary Clubs of Carlisle (Carlisle, Carlisle-Sunrise and Carlisle Sunset) have once again demonstrated their commitment to service, sustainability, and community by installing a new water fountain with a bottle-filling station at the Cumberland County Historical Society (CCHS).This latest upgrade is part of the ongoing “Rest and Refresh” project, originally funded through the 2017 Holiday Dinner auction. That effort provided benches for the CCHS outdoor pocket park, a small refrigerator, and Rotary-labeled bottled water for visitors. The custom labels highlight Rotary International’s global mission to provide clean water to communities in need.

 

Since the project’s completion, Rotary has continued to supply bottled water to guests. But in recent years, the need for a more sustainable option became clear. Many visitors now bring reusable bottles and struggled with the outdated water fountain, which made refilling slow and messy.

Recognizing this shift, CCHS approached the Rotary Clubs with a new request, and Rotary responded. With the help of Mr. Earnie Zimmerman of the Mechanicsburg North Rotary Club, a modern water fountain with an integrated bottle filler was installed on March 24.

 

The new fixture offers clean, accessible drinking water and supports environmental responsibility. A sign above the unit, titled “The Rotary Water Story,” shares Rotary’s broader impact on global water initiatives. By May 1, the bottle-fill counter had already recorded 99 plastic bottles saved. This meaningful upgrade continues the “Rest and Refresh” mission while promoting sustainability and community health."