Earlier this month, the Rotary Club of Powell River completed its annual Great Grocery Plus raffle combined with a 50/50 raffle. This has been a major fundraiser for several years and allows Rotarians to give back to the community.
“These are gaming funds through the province of BC,” explains club president Jan Gisborne, “and they must all be spent locally.”
Rotary has several community service projects that it supports, such as high school bursaries, Powell River Action Centre Food Bank, Read To Me program, and sending students to a Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) as a few examples.
Rotary in the qathet region started in June 1955 and has developed many projects over the years, including Westview Viewpoint with memorial bricks, Willingdon Beach Campsite, water park and playground equipment, as well as the Rotary Pavilion. Its members have erected playground equipment at Palm Beach Park and in Van Anda on Texada Island.
Rotarians also helped with construction of two huts, and a campsite, along the Sunshine Coast Trail. Most recently they built a gazebo at Palm Beach and will build a second on Texada.
At one time, there were several service clubs in this area but over the years almost all have ceased to exist while Rotary is looking forward to its 70th anniversary in June 2025.
“We know there are other worthy groups with needs that they have difficulty funding,” added Gisborne. “Clubs in other communities have conducted community needs assessments and now we are going to do one for this area.”
Robin Morrison, a relatively new Rotarian, has offered to spearhead the assessment.
“We are going to develop a list of different organizations and their needs and from that we will choose four to come to a meeting and present to our members,” said Morrison. “We’ll be holding a potluck dinner on a regular Wednesday night meeting February 7 at the Carlson Loft.”
Members and guests will gather at 6 pm with the meeting including dinner starting at 6:30 pm.
Gisborne said the assessment will provide the club with information for future donations or hands-on volunteers for projects that will benefit residents of all ages in the region.
Groups are invited to send contact information and an outline of their specific need to Morrison at [email protected] or call her at 604.483.6759.
“Depending on the response,” said Morrison, “we will plan an opportunity for other groups later in the spring.”
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