Highlights of the Year
The Rotary Club of Shelburne, with fourteen members, had a very busy 2023, particularly in the lead up to the holiday season.
Some of the highlights of the year include:
-opening of the splash pad after more than three years of fundraising led by Shelburne Rotarian Sandra Gallaugher
-running the seniors’ market in partnership with the Shepherd’s Cupboard Food Bank – this is a free monthly mobile market that serves seniors and those with mobility issues by bringing fresh produce, breakfast food and necessity items in a farmer’s market style to strategic locations in Shelburne
-Backpack Program – proving approximately 150 backpacks to local students in need for back to school in September
-Thanksgiving Food Drive
-Christmas Hampers – providing food and toys to 190 families in need in Shelburne and the surrounding area
-we made a $10,000 donation toward the Headwaters Health Care Centre’s (Orangeville hospital) new MRI machine. This brought our grand total donated to the hospital to $138,000
-we made a commitment of $20,000 toward improvements at the splash pad possibly including a pavilion, benches, and picnic tables
None of these initiatives could be supported without our fundraisers:
Drive In Movie Night
Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Concert in the Park
Pumpkin Fest – a first time initiative in partnership with Team Apex
Greenery Fundraiser
Gift Basket Fundraiser
Scott Woods Old Time Country Christmas Concert
-partnership with Tim Hortons on their spring Smile Cookie Campaign – raising $17,000 for support of the Shepherd’s Cupboard Food Bank, Primrose Elementary School Natural Playground, local schools Breakfast Club, Backpack Program, and Christmas Hamper Program
-partnership with the Shelburne Economic Development Committee to run a golf tournament to raise money for features in local parks
In addition to all of that, many of our members and their friends and relatives spent numerous hours volunteering at the International Plowing Match in September. We are awaiting news as to what causes in the community will be supported by the revenues from this event.
In the lead up to the holiday season, we held three fundraisers (greenery, gift baskets, Scott Woods concert) and, under the leadership of Rotarian Bobbi Ferguson, collected, packed and distributed 190 Christmas Hampers to families in need. Somewhere in there (December 14) we paused for our Christmas Dinner with relatives and friends. During that event, we were pleased to host District Governor Brenda Halloran and District Governor Elect Sohail Naseer.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of two awards. First, the Club’s Community Hero Award was presented to Brian and Jeannette French of Lennox Farms who never fail to support our initiatives to combat food scarcity in our community. Second, the Club was honoured to present Ardith Dunlop with a Paul Harris Fellow. Ardith has worked tirelessly for over 20 years as the volunteer co-ordinator of the Shepherd’s Cupboard Food Bank in Shelburne.
Shelburne Rotary looks forward to an exciting 2024 as we continue to "Create Hope in the World".
Submitted by Caroline Mach and Bobbi Ferguson
Rotary Club of Shelburne