Rotary Christmas Appeal Gets Underway

It must be November!

The Garden Centres have cleared their shelves in order to make way for cards, baubles and sets of pulsating fairy lights, as Christmas shows its head above the horizon.

‘Ere long that nice Mr Hunt will be sending many of us a present with a label that says “Winter Fuel Allowance”.  Despite the way fuel prices have gone, some still feel uncomfortable accepting this payment and will continue to make as donation to help address the need which is to be found all around us, and, by using Gift Aid, will get a further boost from Mr Hunt.

If you are thinking of making a Christmas donation, with or without the help of Mr Hunt, but have yet to conclude who to, may we invite you to consider the Club’s Christmas appeal?

This year there will be three beneficiaries.

  • Children in Africa

    Picture shows less than half of the school who had turned out to meet a club member and friends while visiting during school holidays in April this year.

Over recent years we have forged strong links with the Kanyama Free Baptist Community School in Lusaka Zambia, (CLICK HERE) and with the Kimbilio Organisation in the Democratic Republic of Congo www.congochildrentrust.org  who, between them, are helping improve the lives of nearly 500 children.

We have funded projects which have improved school facilities, and have provided much needed educational items. We have also helped with the feeding programme for the youngsters.

We would like to repeat last year’s donation, which provided a small gift and a party for all the youngsters and was received with great excitement and gratitude.

  • Shoe Boxes

    Moldovan girls collecting their Rotary Shoeboxes

 

As a Club we have supported the Rotary Shoebox scheme for a number of years.

This provides boxes of gifts or household items, for vulnerable youngsters and families, who live principally in Romania, and Moldova. www.rotaryshoebox.org

Each box is more than just a box full of useful and fun gifts; it’s personal, a gift not just for the person receiving it but for the family too – a message of hope and a demonstration that someone cares about them. 

Each year members make up boxes of toys, household goods for families, or gifts for older children.. The categories of gifts are shown on the boxes.

At our club lunch meetings, empty boxes will be available for collection or, if you would like some boxes dropping off to you, then please let Mike Boyce know on 07976612276.

Rather than fill a box, some club members prefer to make a donation to the Club’s Charitable Trust which will then be used to fill boxes on your behalf. 

  • ShelterBoxes

 Recent major natural disasters have brought untold misery and despair to tens of thousands who have lost everything and are in desperate need of the protection which ShelterBoxes provide.

ShelterBoxes are already on the ground in Libya and Morocco, but more are needed and depleted stocks in Cornwall need to be replaced.

www.shelterbox.org

To support the Christmas Appeal

You can make a payment into the Club’s Charitable Account.

Sort code                                          56-00-69

Account number                            60255927 

Please Show reference                 Appeal

Please e-mail Treasurer Derek Morgan Morgan_d12@sky.com with details of your donation, with a copy to Mike Boyce mike.boyce1@btinternet.com  so we can keep track.

If you wish your contribution to go exclusively to just one of these causes, please add /Africa    or /Shoe     or /Shelter, as appropriate, after the reference Appeal.

With grateful thanks

Brian Bailey and Mike Boyce

Grant Giving Committee.

End Polio Now Campaign October 2023

A great turnout yet again at Bantock Park with support from the Mayor, Cllr. Mike Hardacre, children from Low Hill Infants and Merridale Primary Schools, Bantock Users Group and Matt from Midlands Co-op on Behalf of the Fairtrade Partnership as The City of Wolverhampton Rotary club plants another 4000 purple crocus corms to raise awareness of Rotary International’s campaign to eliminate polio.

(consent to photograph the children obtained.)

 

PDG Richard Green

 

Books 4 Home continuing to support local schools.

One of the many schools that the City of Wolverhampton Rotary club supports with the Books4Home scheme is Low Hill Nursery.

Today, 28th Sepember, we had the enormous pleasure of handing over a bookstore made for us, free of charge, by mastecraftsman Peter Arnold, formerly of PC Arnold Joinery.

Transport was kindly provided by Rotarian Peter Williams with Mike Boyce as the willing driver.

The photo shows Richard Green handing the unit over to Headteacher Natalie Showell who said ” I am blown away by the bookstore….it is beautiful! ” and Governor Jackie Money said ” The bookstore is marvellous. From the Governors and staff at Low Hill Nursery thank you so very much! Our thanks to Peter Arnold – he is very talented indeed. The bookstore will get a lot of use at Low Hill and is gratefully received.”