Rotary clubs join forces to Rotary Community Bottle and Food Drive
David Andrews/Past President, Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood
The Rotary Clubs of Oshawa and Oshawa-Parkwood have joined forces for another joint project as members and their families from both clubs invites the community to the Rotary Community Bottle and Food Drive in Oshawa on Sept. 26.
Proceeds will go to help organizations fighting COVID-19 in Oshawa and was announced recently by Club Presidents Trish Best of the Oshawa Rotary Club and Sue MacKinnon of the Oshawa-Parkwood Rotary Club.
This time, the two Rotary Clubs are not alone. Rotary International District 7070 Governor Mark Chipman has asked all 55 Rotary Clubs, in all of the communities in the south central Ontario District, which stretches from and includes Toronto, east to Belleville, and Toronto north to Alliston, to hold their own Rotary Community Bottle and Food Drive on Saturday, Sept. 26 and help their own community organizations to help those who need them most during the pandemic.
“We are asking the citizens of Oshawa to drop off their bottles and cans, wine bags, and this time, non-perishable food products at two easy-to-get-to locations – the north-west parking lot at the Oshawa Centre, 419 King St West; and in the Founders #2 Parking Lot at the Ontario Tech University, 2000 Simcoe Street North Campus on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” said Oshawa Rotary Past President Emmy Iheme, co-chair of the event.
“Look for the Rotary signs in each location. We will be there to collect your empties and your food items,” added Best.
The money collected will be used to the benefit local community programs in desperate need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The non-perishable foods, including items such as pasta, canned goods, rice and cereal, will go to Feed the Need in Durham (which provides perishable as well as non-perishable food to 68 emergency food providers throughout the region). Donations are needed right now to help those in need of food in Durham Region, especially now, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, our local community programs are being utilized much more than ever before. And they are faced with a drop in funds due to the impact of the virus on many of their regular donors. Rotary is pleased to be able to step up, once again, and help right now,” said MacKinnon.
Both Rotary presidents agreed that COVID-19 has brought new challenges to the Rotary Clubs in Oshawa and all over the world. The both agreed that Rotary is responding. Humanitarian service remains their primary focus, no matter the circumstances.
“Rotary’s ability to help our community organizations has also been effected by COVID-19. Many of the southern Ontario Rotary Clubs’ fundraisers were cancelled or postponed. In many cases, their only donations are coming from club members. The Rotary Community Bottle and Food Drive is really crucial to everyone in southern Ontario,” said Chipman.
The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood is made up of local business, professional, and civic leaders. They meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships and through that, they are able to get things done in our community.
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. The first Rotary club was founded in Chicago in 1905.
Visit rotary.org and endpolio.org for more about Rotary. If you would like to learn more about Rotary or become a member, visit www.rotaryoshawa-parkwood.org.