Having started by supporting the Pontesbury and Minsterley Food Hub, Shrewsbury Severn Rotary is now donating to the Needy Good Neighbours group.
At their last Zoom meeting members of the Rotary club heard that the group looks after lonely people suffering with mental health issues.
Rotarian John Yeomans, who chairs the club’s community and vocational committee, said members had been giving a donation of £100 a month to the food hub out of money that would previously have paid for a weekly meal.
With members of the club being unable to meet on a weekly basis, the meal money had benefited the Pontesbury and Minsterley Food Hub for several months in 2020.
This support, at the food hub’s request, had come to an end and the club’s attention had been drawn to the community good neighbours group.
The club decided it should continue to support the local community and people deeply in need by financially helping the group who provide it.
Members of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary agreed that their meal money should support the Needy Good Neighbours group and will therefore give £100 a month for the next three months.
Sharon Davies of Pontesbury is one of the leaders of the new group. She wrote to Rotary: “Following on from the food bank we found there are so many people who are lonely and unable to complete even simple tasks because of age or illness.
Sharon Davies pictured her grandson Charlie Bromley age 4.
“Some really struggle with mental health having spent months isolating and not seeing anyone. We got our heads together and started the group which is run by volunteers who just run errands and take to doctors or hospital.
“Others are befrienders who make phone calls each week and where possible see their new friend.
“The longer term plan is that when coronavirus is over they will provide help in the garden, take people shopping and to clubs. We already have a number of volunteers phoning and chatting to people each week.
“On the flip side we have found people who unbelievably live in poverty – we have been shocked to find this on our doorstep.
“We have started a hardship fund through which we are planning to help people who are referred through councillors and doctors.
Members of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary agreed that their meal money should support the Needy Good Neighbours group and will therefore give £100 a month for the next three months.”
“It may be to help buy a new cooker with a donation from us or it may be a pair of shoes for a child. Obviously, we will only be able to do this with support from fundraising and donations.
“I am sincerely grateful for the support of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club for the food bank and now their continued support through the hardship fund.”
Denby Dale & District Rotary has presented a building supplies company with a Community Service Award after it helped to make a virtual balloon race a success.
Holmebuild, based in Honley, pledged to buy 100 balloons in the race that took place over the Xmas holidays. It meant that well over £1,000 was raised for Yorkshire Cancer Research, Dementia UK and other charities and organisations.
Denby Dale & District Rotary has presented a building supplies company with a Community Service Award after it helped to make a virtual balloon race a success.”
President of Denby Dale & District Rotary Club Gil Davies explained: “We were very grateful for the support from Holmebuild. It was a tremendous gesture and helped us to be able to donate significant funds to the charities that we were supporting.”
When we emerge from the pandemic world of COVID-19 life will not be the same as before.
So in West Yorkshire, Haworth & Worth Valley Rotary’s Charitable Trust, is offering helping hand to small organisations in the Worth Valley by starting a brand-new small grant scheme.
The Rotary club’s Trust is making up to £2,000 available to assist organisations throughout the valley with grants, typically up to £500.
This new initiative is designed to assist small charities, clubs, companies or support groups with grants that will enable them to continue with initiatives that support the residents of the valley.
Club President, Ian Park, said: “Connecting with the community is a key objective for Rotarians and this new scheme is one of our club’s major projects for the current Rotary year.
“We’ll be happy to receive applications from organisations within the Worth Valley but it’s important to remember that we’re looking to support groups that involve people who live in the area and that our focus will be on the initiatives they are taking, not on running costs.
“It’s the first time that we’ve undertaken such a scheme and we’re excited about the possibilities of helping other groups in the Valley.”
