Niagara-on-the-Lake News

Posted by Jeannie Manning

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?

A whole lot!
 
Part continuing education (what is the need in our community?)
Part new eyes and expertise (love new members’ perspective)
Part consistent dedication of fellow Rotarians (we feed off each other’s energy)
 
COVID-19 protocols changed the way we interact with people. Out of necessity we found new ways to build bridges with our families, our neighbours, our community. We had limited fund raisers that led to limited funds. We started asking the organizations that had been recipients of our funds;“How else can we help?” “What else can we do for you?”
 
And they told us.
Now, as well as donating much needed funds, we donate our TIME, we donate our expertise, we are connecting with our community on a person to person level. And it feels great!
 
Here are a few highlights:
  • We formed a Temporary Agricultural Workers (TAWS) sub committee and gathered information from various organizations on the migrant workers needs. We financially assisted the NOTL Library’s Community Engagement Committee in providing much needed WIFI Hot Spots to rural areas and with the on-boarding costs of a new HUB app that will allow the workers to download for free all of the information they need; government, community, health, transportation, legal, spiritual, etc in their own language.
  • We formed our own team of Rotarians and family members to participate monthly in the St. George Breakfast Program. This program has been running for 25 years, 365 days a year. It serves over 100 breakfasts daily to the marginalized in our community.
  • We assist with the Newark Neighbours Porch Pick up Food Drives. Collecting, filling our cars, and delivering, much needed provisions for their Food Bank.
  • We participated in the District 7090 Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup in conjunction with the Environmental Advisory Committee for the Town.
  • We collected, donated, dropped off and funded the back to school supplies for 100 students through the Niagara Region Native Centre.
  • We assist the Good Food Box Program, monthly, by filling 350 boxes with fresh produce and delivering a portion of them to recipients who would not otherwise be able to afford fresh food. This commitment takes us all over the Niagara Region; Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Welland, Niagara Falls, Thorold and St. Catharines.
  • We volunteered for a two day drive-through Flu Clinic at the Community Centre.
These are hands on, in person, shoulder to shoulder (safely distanced) opportunities for our Rotary members to GIVE BACK. The Rotary Club of Niagara on the Lake is so much more than the good work our funds provide for so many worthy organizations. We are now a part of those worthy organizations.
 
Doesn’t it feel GREAT?