Market Rasen Rotary showcases support to charities
Market Rasen held a meeting with a difference recently.
Eighteen members attended the meeting and welcomed guests as follows: Stephen Woodcock ShelterBox, Kay Turnbull Market Rasen Library, Jo Pilley Market Rasen Council, Mary-Jane Storr Market Rasen and Caistor Co-op, Michael Galligan Caistor in Bloom, Martin Forsythe New Life Church, Eve Bennett Market Rasen and district Baby Bank, Duncan Goodwin St. Andrew’s Hospice, Eddie King Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, Amanda Gwyther Market Rasen Tesco, Julie Wood Teenage Cancer Trust (by Zoom link) and the Rev. Eleanor Robertshaw, Archdeacon of Stow.
Rotary President Dianne Tuckett explained that we had arranged this Rotary Showcase event to present the Charity work Rotary has been carrying out over the past year and to make presentations to some of the causes that we have been supporting.
President Dianne introduced Julie Wood who gave us a presentation via Zoom and presented the Trust with £350.00, raised from the Santa Run and Market place Xmas Fair draw. https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/.
Rtns. John Moore and John Smith explained how we have been supporting the Lincolnshire and Notts Air Ambulance for many years and with a sum more than £40,000. They introduced Eddie King to receive our donation. Rtn. David Mason thanked Brigg Garden Centre for allowing us to collect on their premises A cheque was then presented to Eddie King for £817.19 (https://www.ambucopter.org.uk/
Rtn. Bob Winter said how important we believed the work of St. Andrew’s Hospice is, and especially the children’s section, known as Andy’s. Again, Rasen Rotary has been supporting it for many years.
A cheque for £532.61 was presented to Duncan Goodwin, St Andrew’s representative. Duncan explained the work of the Hospice and mentioned that they had a shop and also a very friendly coffee shop situated at the side of the Hospice and any visitor would always be made very welcome https://www.standrewshospice.com/
Rtn. David Mason introduced Rotarian Stephen Woodcock a Rotarian representative of Shelterbox who explained the work that Shelterbox does and how the operation first started. He also said that we at Market Rasen were one of the best Rotary club supporters of the charity having given over £41,000 in donations over the years. This year we were giving £554.77 from Xmas collections at the two Coop stores. https://shelterbox.org/,
Following the presentations a sumptuous Buffet, prepared by our wonderful caterer Eve Bennet, was enjoyed by all.
Following the meal, Rtn. Ron Myland, organiser of this Showcase event, wished to thank those that have provided us with venues for our collections: Market Rasen Leisure Centre, Market Rasen Town Council, Brigg Garden Centre, Market Rasen Tesco store and the Co-op stores in both Market Rasen and Caistor.
Rtns. Ron and Pres. Dianne then gave a special presentation of a Friend of Rotary Certificate to Amanda Gwyther for Tesco in Market Rasen who have now become a Friend of Rotary, joining several other organisations who hold this auspicious accolade.
Rtn. Nigel Douglas gave a short presentation of the numerous donations we have made over the year and in particular wished to thank Sutton Estates for their substantial donation to Shelterbox, which they do every year either via Rasen Rotary or direct to ShelterBox.
Nigel went on to explain that this year over all we had donated over £6000 to local and National Charities and reviewing the past, we have donated over £106,000, not an inconsiderable amount for a small rural Rotary Club like ours.
Rtn. Stuard Davis then explained a little about our main Rotary Charity – Rotary Foundation.
This is a very well respected International Rotary Charity Worldwide which is supported by all Rotary members. Every year Market Rasen gives over £1000 to Foundation.
One of the early projects supported by Rotary Foundation was the Polio Eradication programme, launched in 1985 but which developed from early vaccination programmes started in the late 1970’s.
Rotary’s Polio Eradication programme is one of the world’s most successful global health initiatives and has reduced polio worldwide by 99,9% - polio is now only epidemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and this is on course to be eliminated completely in the next few years.
Rtn. David Mason then explained some of the ‘non financial’ fund raising projects that we currently are engaged with: The war in Ukraine featured strongly in our thoughts and we produced a short video presentation, which is still available on YouTube (https://youtu.be/7NouY-oWFO8), highlighting the issues facing the population in Ukraine.
We supplied £5,000 of generators to Ukraine, following our appeal. We have also been collecting unused and surplus medicines and medical supplies which we ship to Ukraine, where such supplies are very much in demand.
We collect spectacles at the two Coop stores, that are no longer needed by their owners, and these are processed, cleaned and tested and sent to Africa where they are put to good use. Ring pulls from drink cans are also collected and these are packaged up and sent to an organisation (PCF) in the Philippines where they are processed by locals and made into various saleable items – handbags etc.
The money raised supports education of the young people involved. We also collect several tons of surplus flower bulbs annually and distribute to local schools, villages, individuals and projects.
Michael Galligan, Caistor in Bloom, takes many bags of these bulbs each year and plants them all over Caistor – Spring in Caistor is much the prettier thanks to Michael and his gang at Caistor in Bloom.
Rtn Malcolm Stimpson explained the large project that we are part of. --TWAM, Tools with a Mission. We organise collections around the region of any unwanted tools and equipment, garden, carpentry, mechanics tools and sewing machines and haberdashery.
These collections are eventually taken to a central processing operation in Rugby where they are sorted, cleaned and repaired etc. The are then packaged together in Trade sets, these are shipped out to Africa where they enable people to set up work businesses. TWAM claim that around 50 people per day are being helped with this project.
President Dianne then closed the Showcase part of the meeting, thanking all for their attendance and those that have supported us in our charitable work, saying we hope that support continues and that the local citizens continue their generous help.
If anyone would like to get more involved with the work Rotary does, please contact Peter on 01472 851357.