1st Annual "Rotary Wish List for Community Care" Project Raises Nearly $25,000 Worth of Food!
Teams of dedicated volunteers strategically stationed themselves at the entrances of 12 grocery stores across St. Catharines from 10 am to 1 pm. Armed with a carefully curated 'wish list' of the top 12 items most needed by Community Care, these volunteers engaged with shoppers, distributing lists, and encouraging them to contribute to the cause by adding items to their shopping carts. One Rotarian commented, when the Interact student engaged with the store’s clientele, those customers seem to donate more, or more frequently.
The results of the 'Rotary Wish List for Community Care' project are nothing short of remarkable. The initiative successfully collected over 5,500 lbs of food, with a dollar value estimated at $20,075, and a commendable $4,149 in cash donations was raised as well. Of this total, $1,099 was contributed by shoppers, while the remaining generous sum was donated by Rotarians directly. This equates to a total donation of nearly $25,000. This incredible achievement reflects the community's compassion and commitment to making a meaningful impact.
Wish List Co-Chair Mike Britton reflected, “The International Rotary theme for this year is 'creating hope in the world,' and that is what this food drive is all about. Every contribution, big or small, transforms into a practical Christmas gift, making life a bit easier for those in need. All those who donated and volunteered on this project can be proud that they are a part of making a miracle for a family experiencing food insecurity this Christmas.”