Rotarians understand that when circumstances close a familiar door, they open other opportunities to put “Service Above Self.”
“For the past eight years, the Rotary Club of Edmonton Southeast has had the opportunity, through our partnership with Millbourne Laundromat’s owner and the Leefield Community League, to host a Thanksgiving dinner to those in need,” says Victoria Ewert, the club’s administrator. “We have previously provided between 800 to 1,000 Thanksgiving meals each year, and a sense of community for individuals in need during the holidays.”
The club’s commitment to this project for residents of Edmonton’s Millwoods community was celebrated in 2018-2019 with a Gilbert Paterson Award for community service.
“It is with heavy hearts that our Rotary club made the difficult decision to cancel our annual community Thanksgiving dinner in Millwoods due to Covid-19, as in-person gathering is not allowed,” Victoria says.
But that didn’t dampen these Rotarians’ determination to feed those in need, this fall.
“We partnered with the Earth Group Foundation in providing 50,000 meals to feed families in need in Edmonton,” Victoria says. “The Earth Group will also deliver meals to various homeless shelters in Edmonton in partnership with Edmonton’s Food Bank.”
The club donated $5,900 to this initiative.
“These meals will be distributed throughout the month of October in the spirit of Thanksgiving,” Victoria says.
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What’s your club’s story? What doors to service has the pandemic closed? What new opportunities to serve has it opened? Email your story to communications@Rotary5370.org.
Rotary International District 5370 News 