A Rotary club in Somerset has been spreading some Easter cheer to folk in the village.
Described as “a random act of kindness”, Crewkerne District Rotary has been distributing Easter eggs to people’s doorsteps with the message:
Please accept this gift from the Rotary Club of Crewkerne District. A small present to bring a smile in these tricky times.
Your house has been selected at random but should you feel one of your neighbours would benefit from a small act of random kindness, please feel free to pass it on – remembering the rules for social distancing.
Life may not be easy at the moment and if you are struggling to cope, help is available.
Mind – 0300 123 3393 www.mind.org.uk
Samaritans – 116 123 www.samaritans.org
For help with self-isolating please call the local Covid-19 support group on 01460 77489 to register your details or email church@crewkerne.org
Rotarian Martin Holley and his wife Sarah are among those who have been involved in distributing around 800 Easter eggs.
“We are a youngish club going for about 11 years, with an active membership, and so far we have been involved with helping people with picking up their shopping and prescriptions,” said Martin.
“But we thought what else can we do?”
The idea was the brainchild of member, Lauren Biffen. The club had become aware that depression and suicide was one of the less-publicised issues from the current pandemic.
So to address this, the Rotary club came up with the Easter egg idea with their ‘random act of kindness’ in the town of Crewkerne, near Yeovil, on the Dorset border.
Lauren explained: “The thing I would like emphasised is that this was not for the old and vulnerable, but for the forgotten alone and lonely.
“Any age group can be affected, but even if someone is still earning by working at home, and are single they may not speak to anyone all day.”
The gesture has gone down well, with one resident posting a message on social media which said:
Thank you so much to whoever posted this through my door today. It’s lovely to see people spreading happiness at such a rubbish time. I live alone and haven’t seen anyone (aside from the cashiers when I go for food) for nearly 4 weeks and, I’m sure like most of us, I’ve been feeling pretty alone. So thank you. Keep spreading the happiness ❤ You don’t know how much it really is needed and appreciated x
Martin said they were looking to extend the idea in the future to lift people’s spirits when they were locked in self-isolation.
In Essex, Colchester Rotary has donated a large number of Easter Eggs to the Rainbow Trust. The club was raffling eggs around Colchester, but the coronavirus lockdown hit sales.
Colchester Rotary has donated a large number of Easter Eggs to the Rainbow Trust.
However, hundreds of pounds have been raised and will assist the Rainbow Trust to provide support for families with seriously ill children.
Several eggs freed from raffling were ben handed over by the Rotary club’s President-elect, David King, pictured with Sarah Raven-Lloyd whilst maintaining social distancing.
Elsewhere, foodbanks have been the focus of many Rotary clubs’ fund-raising efforts during the coronavirus outbreak.
Because of the lockdown which is now in its fourth week, scores of clubs have resorted to holding online meetings – most using the conference meeting app, Zoom.
And with the money saved from hosting those weekly meetings, this is being put to good use by supporting foodbanks who are facing a huge rise in demand.
In the Thames Valley region, District 1090 clubs have pulled together cash resources as part of a co-ordinated effort as part of their ‘Food Banks & More’ campaign, and in two weeks have so far raised £17,262.
Interactors from three Reading schools, Waingels College, Piggott School and Bumershe Schol raised £2,550 alone.
“The situation will get worse, before it gets better,” warned organiser, Joy Arnott, from Pangbourne Rotary. “We have the opportunity to make a difference – after all, Rotary is always first on the spot.”
District 1090 clubs have pulled together cash resources as part of a co-ordinated effort as part of their ‘Food Banks & More’ campaign, and in two weeks have so far raised £17,262.”
The Trussell Trust has more than 1,200 food banks in its network, which they estimate amounts to two-third of food banks in the UK. They support these food banks to provide a minimum of three days’ nutritionally-balanced emergency food to people who have been referred in crisis.
Prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the Trussell Trust said there were 14 million people in the UK who are living below the poverty line. But with many people facing financial uncertainty during the lockdown, there has been a greater call for their services.
Besides fund-raising, Rotary clubs continue to be involved with community projects, pulling together volunteers to help with fetching shopping and prescriptions for vulnerable people.
On the Wirral in Cheshire, Roydon Revolve Rotary are selling ‘NHS Show Some Love’ car fresheners at £2 each, with proceeds going to the frontline NHS Charities Together. Find out more here.
#midlandshour
NHS Car Freshener.£2 each delivered. Profits to @NHSCharities
To order via PayPal go to https://t.co/Da73yEKMh9
and order off our website.Bulk Orders can be made here: https://t.co/B6AAJHS8E3#NHSheroes #thankyouNHS #ThankYou #Rotary pic.twitter.com/3EdvLtz1cj
— roydeɴ revolve roтαry clυв (@RoydenRevolve) April 13, 2020
In Carmarthenshire, Narberth & Whitland Rotary are supporting the Cardiff-based company Venn Tailoring and their team of volunteers who are making scrubs for NHS workers in Wales.
Each set of scrubs costs £10 to make, so the Rotary club has donated £500 through a Go Fund Me page, and is encouraging other clubs in Rotary District 1150 Southern Wales to join forces.
Coincidentally, the club meets at the Hotel Plas Hyfryd in Narberth, which is lighting up its building blue as a show of respect for the NHS. Discover more here.
Rotary clubs are being asked by organisers of BBC’s Children in Need to get in touch regarding a TV show which is being aired on Thursday, April 23rd from 7pm to 10 pm.
They are joining forces with Comic Relief to help raise everyone’s spirits, and much-needed funds, to help those in need during the coronavirus lockdown.
These are challenging times. So, for the first time, @BBCCiN ➕ @ComicRelief will bring you a spectacular night of live entertainment and a chance to support those significantly impacted by the crisis.
23rd April | 7 PM | @BBCOne
More ➡️ https://t.co/UqD0h1EKlQ pic.twitter.com/j6tEWlV6qL
— BBC Children in Need (@BBCCiN) April 7, 2020
Paul Fisher, Rotary’s Children in Need co-ordinator, said: “This is an opportunity for Rotary to showcase what we’re best at – community.
“If your Rotary club is helping in the community, or fundraising for a good cause, please let me know as soon as possible so we can get your message to the BBC for the TV show.
“They are particularly looking for video footage so please let me know if you have any of that.”
You can contact Paul at: Volunteer@RotaryCiN.co.uk
For more information about the show, visit the BBC website.
