PHOTO PROVIDED The Rotary Club of Downtown Lock Haven invited the public to join in a Boxes of Hope Packing Party on Sept. 16. Everyone had fun working together to fill boxes with little gifts for breast cancer patients and survivors.

LOCK HAVEN — Rotarians in the Downtown Lock Haven Club did one of their favorite things in September. They visited “the pink place” and filled 186 pink boxes with little gifts for breast cancer patients and survivors across the United States and internationally.

Requests for a box come from friends and relatives.

Traci Fotorny, founder and operator of Boxes of Hope, answers each and every one with a box of encouragement and love.

Traci says she always looks forward to the Rotarians’ Packing Party.

She sets out small tubs of thoughtful gifts, and club members pick a box and go down the line. Some like to follow a color scheme each time, selecting matching inspirational books, hand creams, sleep masks and more. The last item in each box is a handmade guardian angel pin or keychain. The fun continues until there are no more empty pink boxes left in the building.

PHOTO PROVIDED Lisa Schropp, left, president of the Rotary Club of Downtown Lock Haven, surprises Traci Fotorny of Boxes of Hope with the club’s first Person of Action Award for founding and operating the nonprofit that encourages breast cancer patients and survivors.

For this Packing Party, the Rotarians provided snacks and welcomed members of the public to join them.

They also surprised Traci with the club’s first Person of Action Award for her dedication to helping others.

PHOTO PROVIDED The Rotary Club of Downtown Lock Haven invited the public to join in a Boxes of Hope Packing Party on Sept. 16. Everyone had fun working together to fill boxes with little gifts for breast cancer patients and survivors.