This was an in-person meeting for which there is no recording. You really should have been there!
Toasty Toes
Betty Bax introduced Sharon Gilroy-Dreher from the Toasty Toes organization that addressed has through a short video. Toasty Toes is a service that works with other local agencies to support people dealing with homelessness. It is the only organization dedicated to providing socks for these individuals which are critical for foot and overall health. The fund was established in 2020 and has raised over $117,000 to date. Our club will be making a donation to Toasty Toes again this year and individual members are welcome to do so as well through this link to Canada Helps on the
Kitchener Rotary Club Charitable Foundation website.
How can you help? By donating the cost of a package of socks, instead of donating physical socks, together we can warm hearts and toes across our Region. Reach out to find out how to host a workplace, team, or group fundraiser. Follow us on social media and help promote the campaign:
Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIn.
Want to learn more about the campaign? Contact Sharon at
toastytoeswr@gmail.com. Thank you for continuing to support our vulnerable neighbours! If you would like to learn more about the
ToastyToes Waterloo Region Fund, please contact WRCF at 519-725-1806 or
info@wrcf.ca.
In Vino Caritas
Yes, our In Vino Caritas Fundraiser will be back this year. After a two year hiatus organizers Cam Yule and Hubert Singh are looking for a new Wine Dealer. Anyone with a contact or a suggestion is asked to contact either Cam or Hubert.
Catch The Ace
As previously reported, our second round of Catch The Ace has come to a very positive conclusion. Some accounting still needs to be finalized but, event chair, Paul Rostrup, estimates that we will be able to donate between $60 and $65,000 to KidsAbility. In the two times the 5 KW clubs have run this fundraiser we will have raised over $135,000.
The committee is now working on the transition to an online 50/50 fundraiser that is expected to run four times a year with two early bird draws in each event. The first one will begin in January – stay tuned for more details.
Our Indigenous Lending Library
Erin Way reminded members of our Indigenous Lending Library. Books are available at each in-person meeting and span all age ranges. Paul Rostrup recently read the book 21 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE INDIAN ACT, and highly recommends it. He indicated that it is easy to read and provides a lot of background and context information related to what we hear in the media.
Volunteer Hours
In our efforts to be able to better “tell our story”, we are tabulating the number of hours that members spend on all of our volunteer efforts. Data is still being collected but for October we have already accounted for over 600 hours! Event leaders, committee chairs, etc., are reminded to send the November data to Louise Gardiner as soon as possible.
Online Auction – Return of Signs
Our Online Auction has come to an end and again this year has been quite successful. A full report will be made to members in the new year. Members with lawn signs who have not yet returned them are asked to do so as quickly as possible. Please contact Neil Swayze to make arrangements
Club Holiday Social
Our Annual Club Holiday Social is next Tuesday, December 13. In addition to our every popular “Pie” Auction there will be Paul Harris Fellowships awarded and the very first of our prestigious Rotarian Emeritus announcements will be made. There is still a bit of time to register but don’t delay too long!
Rotary Plaza Plaque Dedication
We will be ending our official 18 month 100th Anniversary Celebration with a very special event. On Monday, December 19 all members of Kitchener Rotary are invited to the City of Kitchener Council Meeting where the plaque to be installed in the Rotary Plaza will be dedicated.
Please Register, or Decline, if unable to attend, when you receive the invitation.
