A time of giving for Rotary
By David Andrews
Past President, Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood
The holiday season is a time of giving.
The members of the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood do this year-round, but this month, they go all out to make a difference in the lives of many local residents of Oshawa.
During 10-day Christmas at the Village event, the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood, founding members of the Kids’ Safety Village of Durham Region, worked with the Ajax Optimist Club and the Whitby Lions Club and the many community volunteers to bring joy to so many families, including those from Grandview Children’s Centre.
In addition, every year the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood makes a healthy donation to Simcoe Hall Settlement House which distributes a number of Christmas hampers and an abundance of Christmas toys each year to our community in need.
The Rotary Club also donates funds to Sharon’s Kids program, supporting the Durham Children’s Aid Society’s “Holiday Hope” program where there are over 50 families that will have a happy holiday. Many of the Parkwood Rotarians personally make donations to Sharon’s Kids at the annual Charity Breakfast for Sharon’s Kids. The breakfast focuses on gifts for teens who tend to get missed during the holiday season. Rotary applauds Sharon and the Tartan Tavern for their support and care in the community.
For over 25 years, the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood members and their families host the residents and staff of Participation House to a Christmas party at The Oshawa Golf and Curling Club with dinner, Santa, presents, and Christmas Carols (this year accompanied by pianist and Oshawa City Councillor Derek Giberson). The Participation House Project (Durham Region) is an accredited non-profit, community-based organization providing high quality, needs-specific assistance to youth and adults with physical and developmental disabilities. In their commitment to provide their patients with the most innovative individualized services, they understand that beyond providing exceptional residential support services, they promote and encourage individuals with developmental disabilities to access their communities so that they can experience personal growth in a valuable and meaningful way.
Rotary’s vision statement is so clear, especially at this time of year: “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”
The Rotary Club ‘s work is ongoing, year-round. Club members continually research both local and international projects for opportunities to assist wherever they can to improve the lives in Oshawa and throughout the world.
The main objective of Rotary is service, in the community and throughout the world. As volunteers, Rotarians build goodwill and peace, provide humanitarian service, and encourage high ethical standards in all vocations.
The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood is made up of local business, professional, and civic leaders.
Visit rotary.org and endpolio.org for more about Rotary.
If you would like to learn more about Rotary or become a member, check out our www.rotaryoshawa-parkwood.org website and call Rotarian Lennis Trotter at 905-985-0963 or by email at lennis.trotter@hotmail.com. Or Rotarian Linda Porritt at 905-579-7339 or by email at linda.porritt@century21.ca