PART B OF OUR STORY...
This is a snapshot of some of the actions being undertaken by the district and clubs in light of the current Coronavirus situation we are all dealing with. It certainly demonstrates that Rotarians are – People of Action.
Rotary Club of North Muskoka
The club has partnered with Club 55 in Huntsville to identify seniors in the area who are unable to get groceries, and have a number of volunteers who are doing the shop for these folks.
The club moved to weekly online meetings on March 19th and the attendance has been very good. They have continued to follow their typical meeting format, with added agenda items to brainstorm how to help in the community. The March 26 meeting featured a yoga instructor come and do a 15-minute chair yoga/breathing exercise to mix things up a bit before we moved onto agenda items.
Rotary Club of Parry Sound
The club launched a “Home Delivery Grocery Service” in partnership with Sobeys on March 21st, to help the shut ins in their community and surrounding area. The launch went very well, with the local OPP detachment also coming on board to help out. As of April 26th a total of 253 households are benefiting, many on a weekly basis. And "topped up" about 40 shoppers (those who normally go to the foodbank); and also shopped for free for about 7 families who did not have the resources.
With over $12,000 in donations (as of April 9), the club has posted a revised message: "Thank you for your support of the Rotary Club of West Parry Sound. We currently have enough monies for this program - However, since our fund raising events for the spring are in question - we would greatly appreciate donations to our other programs. Rotary aims to serve the Community's Greatest Needs." One member of the club has since decided to donate $100 a month to the club - his "weekly Rotary allowance" which has remained unspent.
The process involves Sobeys setting up an account for each individual, with delivery and payment information; receiving orders by email or fax by noon the day before; processing the payment, which includes a $10 delivery charge – IF the customer is able to pay. Volunteers, including taxis, then deliver the food. Public Service Announcement
Rotarians look after coordinating the volunteers and taxis, phoning shut ins to create a grocery list of those unable to email or fax their orders, and online fundraising to support the taxis and in the long run the foodbanks. The municipalities will be putting a website up that will be streamlining the paper work but may add significantly to the work - parrysound.ca/help.
This initiative may be expanded to meet other needs as they come to light. The club has generated significant social and traditional media coverage. Read more about it here. Photo courtesy ParrySound.com. Read the latest story here.
On April 4th the club took on a new challenge - producing homemade masks - made by Rotarians and their families at home with some sewing skills. The only stipulation is the masks have to be placed in ziplock baggies and labelled with the date and time (as they can only be distributed after 72 hours). And they already have requests for them!
Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha
Kawartha Rotary surprises Peterborough grocery store workers with gift cards > read here.Rotary Club of Sudbury
The club has been holding bi-weekly virtual meetings since March 23rd, with more 'social' in nature. They have been experiencing great attendance - and the first meeting included the induction of their newest member!
A club member shared information about the eClub of Ohio Pathways, District 6600, that provides some great Rotary content.
Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach and Area
The club has switched from their annual Easter Hampers distribution to giving out gift cards. As decision supported by the Foodbank.
A total of 250 $40 gifts cards were purchased from Foodland, Walmart and the Superstore and distributed to clients of the Foodbank.
District 7010
The District Advisory Council [DAC] (aka District Leadership Team), cancelled Rotary Weekend (April 3-5), which included the Presidents Elect training (PETS). Plans are underway to conduct PETS online in April. Other training sessions that are typically part of the Weekend, are also going to be offered as webinars, in particular The Rotary Foundation and Grant Writing over the next 2 months.
The 2020 Annual General Meeting took place online - April 4th, 9 am.
R.E.L.A.Y. (Rotarians Enhancing Learning of African Youth) Zambia School Project
Email to 2020 Project Team
March 24, 2020
Although we will not travel to Zambia this summer, we will still move forward with some of the major components of the project. We plan to complete the construction of the toilet block with showers, as we have already installed the solar powered submersible pump. We also want to construct the teachers’ residence so that Zambia Open Community Schools can find and hire qualified teachers for the school. These two projects will cost about $65000 so we still have some fundraising to do! We wired $24000 a couple of weeks ago which will be used for the toilet facility and to start the residence. We have $10000 coming from the District very soon and another $10000 in early July. We will send out something to other Rotary Clubs in the next while asking for support. Hopefully we can raise $20000+ through donations by clubs and individuals.
In discussion with a couple of you already, we have been asked if we will postpone the trip to Zambia until next July. The answer is “maybe”. There are many factors that will need to be considered.
Thank you for you interest in being part of this project. If you would still like to be involved in the fundraising for the toilets and teacher residence, please let us know and we will provide you with some fundraising material that may be helpful.
Shelly Duben
Project Co-Ordinator
Although we will not travel to Zambia this summer, we will still move forward with some of the major components of the project. We plan to complete the construction of the toilet block with showers, as we have already installed the solar powered submersible pump. We also want to construct the teachers’ residence so that Zambia Open Community Schools can find and hire qualified teachers for the school. These two projects will cost about $65000 so we still have some fundraising to do! We wired $24000 a couple of weeks ago which will be used for the toilet facility and to start the residence. We have $10000 coming from the District very soon and another $10000 in early July. We will send out something to other Rotary Clubs in the next while asking for support. Hopefully we can raise $20000+ through donations by clubs and individuals.
In discussion with a couple of you already, we have been asked if we will postpone the trip to Zambia until next July. The answer is “maybe”. There are many factors that will need to be considered.
Thank you for you interest in being part of this project. If you would still like to be involved in the fundraising for the toilets and teacher residence, please let us know and we will provide you with some fundraising material that may be helpful.
Shelly Duben
Project Co-Ordinator