Greetings in Rotary,

 

Good to see everyone on Monday night despite the weather which was not kind to us.We had an interesting talk from Sharron from the Food Bank.  Thank you to those who remembered on Monday to bring a fine of a non-perishable item for the Taranaki Retreat.  This will continue up until Christmas.

 

Our social meeting on October 5th will be at the Auto Lodge.  It will take the format of the old style Bingo night without all the cigarette smoke clouding up the hall. Cost will be $2 per card and all proceeds will go to End Polio Now campaign.  There will be a raffle and maybe an auction for some small items, so bring your wallets.

 

We have been asked by the Cancer Society to help with Christmas Wrapping at Centre City during December.  We have the option of doing one of the weeks beginning 7th, 14th or 21st.  I will be asking next Monday which of these weeks suits members best.  If we get in early we will be able to choose our week.  At least this time we have more notice to be able to fill a roster.  What will happen is two people will be on, maybe for a 2hour session, throughout the day for a week.  Centre City are cutting back on their late nights this year so there wont be as many 8 o’clock finishes.

 

The Guest Speaker: Sharon Wills New Plymouth Foodbank was introduced by Wally Garrett and thanked by Dennis Eales

 

 

Wally introduced Sharon who is the New Plymouth Food Bank’s Manager, she was educated at Spotswood College, has 2 adult children and came to the position 3.5 years ago after a managing Adult Literacy New Zealand in New Plymouth. Saron thanked our Rotary Club Of Ngāmotu Charitable Trust for donating $600.00/month to The NP Foodbank in the last 6 months. Most of this has been used to provide fresh fruit and vegetables

In the time she has been manager the Foodbank has grown from 3 volunteers  3 days a week from 9.00am to 2.00pm handling donations in the morning and interviewing clients in the afternoon to 25 volunteers handling donations in the morning to 2-3 packing parcels in the afternoon. 

Currently she has a client base of  632 people being assisted, last week 210 parcels were provided to a wide variety of people in need. Referrals make up 50% of clients from organisations like Tui Ora, TDHB, Police, MSD.

Some clients are often too proud to ask for assistance, NZ Superanuitants that don’t own their own home, people with mental health issues.

She try’s not to be judgemental when interviewing clients and has to match family needs in the distribution of parcels.

The annual drive in December is critical to the Foodbank survival. Storage has become a major problem and current premises will not meet future needs.

The Trust will be reviewing ongoing support at their next meeting.

Club Business;

 A reminder about donating Non perishable goods or money for fines.

Bingo Night:

Sally's mixed media art will be up for auction next Monday night bring your cash.

See picture supplied.