Rotary continues to give to the needy

by Hallam Hope

It was a busy year for Rotary Club of Barbados South, as it responded to the needs of children, devastating storms in the Caribbean and the challenges of finding new approaches to raising funds and providing service.

In collaboration with the Child Care Board, a long-standing partner, the Club’s back to school drive provided needy children with uniforms and computers as well as hampers for families, while responding to COVID-19 in practical ways, a report by former president Brian Robinson indicated.

While school uniforms remained an area of contribution to needy families through the Child Care Board, the Club expanded its assistance by providing laptops and tablets to aid students with online studies, a consequence of the lockdown, Robinson told a recent installation ceremony at the Barbados Hilton Resort.

Officials of civic-minded organisations noted a decline in the value of contributions to non-governmental bodies which rely partly on private sector donations.

The COVID-19 lockdown of events also had an impact on the types of events that might have been held to raise funds.

“We had a great vocational services awards night and were motoring along nicely with big plans for the annual Caribbean Excellence show when the dreaded COVID–19 virus hit us and the pandemic was declared.

“We therefore can say we were allowed nine months of normalcy which seems a lifetime ago now after all the lockdowns and ‘new normal’ that the world is going through,” Robinson noted.

The Club also provided funds for efforts dealing with polio and diabetes.

At the regional level Rotary South responded to hurricane relief for Dominica with $20 000 in computer equipment prior to the start of the school term while money was raised for the Bahamas, which was also hit by a major storm.

“In our second quarter we hosted our round table discussion on the economy which was well received, and then moved swiftly into our Christmas hamper project, which has been our signature project for years.

“I must say the district governor was impressed as he attended and participated in the hamper packing on his visit,” Robinson said.

The youth clubs of Interact and Rotaract were very busy and “soon proved to have the energy levels which we cherish,” the past president reported.

Robinson noted: “‘In the hunt’ was a great success and helped raise funds for the polio cause.

“Our big fund raiser, the Best of Youth Concert, was back on its two-day schedule and replenished our treasury by generating a useful $23 000 surplus.”   

“We also had a fantastic multimedia campaign to educate people on the need for wearing face masks.

“The materials left over from this exercise have allowed us to complete and brand over 400 masks which we have been selling, as well as an additional 400 masks which are available now for distribution to students and teachers through our current back to school programme,” the past president said.

Robinson added: “The energy of our Rotaract partners came to the fore and the project became known as “Masked up” and the team was able to raise the necessary funds for us to provide 10,000 cloth face masks to frontline workers along with other protective gear in short order.”

The Club’s youth members were engaged in the planting of trees in support of a national initiative to address climate change and there were fun events such as a hike and picnic.

Robinson said it was a good year generally.