Chilliwack’s newest Rotary Club has been busy doing good deeds around town lately.
In addition to raising money for various Chilliwack organizations, the Rotary Club of Chilliwack After Hours members have also been performing regular acts of kindness.
“For a 24-member group, we have whole hearted dedication to making Chilliwack a better place,” club president Joan Patterson said.
Recently they handed a $500 cheque over to Chilliwack Bowls of Hope Society after raising funds through a meat pie sale.
Their “Checkers for Charity” fundraiser – an event which featured gifts for every $20 donation – brought in more than $4,000 for the Salvation Army food bank and other local charities. Each person who donated $20 to the fundraiser would get a checker corresponding to one of the prizes donated by various local businesses. The largest gift was a $700 “wall of wine” from Odlum Brown which went to a pair of hospital employees (a husband and wife) who work in the emergency department of Abbotsford Regional Hospital.
They’ve also been doing acts of kindness around Chilliwack.
The club has placed little libraries in areas where the less fortunate can access books, and members have filled handbags with donated treats for the woman at Ruth and Naomi’s Family Centre.
The RCMP’s Chilliwack Community Response Team received decadent cupcakes by Urban Cakes along with Tim Horton’s gift cards as a thank you for their service, and Crystal Ridge Manor staff received cinnamon buns donated by SinAmen Bun Co. along with chocolates to thank them for keeping local seniors safe.
Upcoming fundraisers include a frozen blueberries sale and ongoing meat pie sales. The meat pies help local business, Lori’s Diner.
“We are all about community,” said Lara Clayton, fundraising co-chair. “During these tough times, our little club is having a big impact.”
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