Forres Rotary Club members have been busy during the last few weeks working hard for their charities, despite members being restricted to virtual meetings. They are now looking forward to a busy few weeks ahead, with a variety of events planned.
Forres Rotary’s current president Tanya McLaren said: “Although we have been enjoying our Zoom meetings, people are used to seeing Rotary out and about in the community campaigning for international and local causes and members wanted to continue to do that. We are delighted with the money we have raised so far and the impact our fundraising will have and hope that people will support us with these next events.
Members have just finished filling 80 shoeboxes which are destined for delivery to areas suffering devastation or depravation around Eastern Europe. Shoeboxes contain a variety of items for all age groups, including toiletries, hats, scarves, gloves, torches, household items and toys.
Earlier this year the club also sent off £1800 to the Shelterbox disaster appeal, following a socially distanced fundraising day at Tesco. Forres Rotary also supported a humanitarian appeal in Syria and contributed towards a Rotary District campaign to build an eye hospital in Africa.
Polio campaign
Forres Rotarians also marked the global End Polio Now Campaign with a fun evening to raise money and awareness. Although the wild Polio virus is now 99% eradicated, it is still present in two countries, and therefore vital to keep the vaccination programme going.
Forres Rotary’s purple themed event featured a quiz, and an auction for a bottle of Passionately Purple Gin, raising more than £150. Local school children were also involved in the campaign with Anne Hyslop and the children’s committee presenting Rotakids at schools around the Forres area with purple crocus bulbs to plant out.
Anne explained that purple is the colour of the vaccination mark put on children’s finger after they have had the injection. Logie Primary pupils were so enthusiastic that they designed an information leaflet which was distributed to other schools to inform pupils about the vaccination programme.
Litter-pick
The club is also planning a socially distanced litter pick around the Tesco/Lidl roundabout area on the morning of 7 November following several complaints locally about the amount of rubbish there, and hope to make a visible difference.
Tanya explained that the club has carried out a risk assessment and members will be abiding to restrictions and are grateful to Forres in Bloom who are offering some support for the event.
Santa’s sleigh
Tanya added: “Looking ahead to December, we are very excited with our plan to get the Santa Sleigh back on the road so the jolly man in the red suit can see all the boys and girls before the big day, albeit that the event will go ahead in a slightly different format this year. As usual details and routes will all be advertised on the Forres Rotary Club Facebook page.”
If you want to find out more about rotary visit our Facebook page. If you want to donate to any of these Rotary events, please visit our Just Giving Page which will be shared on our Facebook page ahead of the Children in Need events.
