Rotary Club of Kitchener Westmount
April 20, 2022
Visiting Rotarian – Glenn Stewart
Guest of club – Lorri Detta
Guest of Ian R. – His son Sam
Guest of Karin - Ian Samolczyk
President Judy called the meeting to order 12:15
O’ Canada, Toast to the Queen and Rotary, Invocation
Lunch
Rotary Land Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we live and work today is the land traditionally used by the Hoaudenosaunee, Anishnaabe and Neutral people. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws and philosphies of the Indigenous people with whom we share this land today.
12:40 Announcements
- Birthday’s
- Popy (Mac’s Wife) April 24,
- Wedding Anniversary’s
- Todd and Jen 13 Years
- Bob and Rose 54 years
- Rotary Anniversary’s
Graham Gardiner –
Youth day is May 14th and the organization committee is looking for volunteers to help setup May 13th and tear down on May 14th Please contact Graham.
Mac Graham
Reminder about Catch the Ace fund raiser
Reminder about KW Trivia Challenge April 29th – Chief Brian Larkin MC –
50/50 Pot at $127.50 – Alex, Dave drew marbles but no winner this week
April 24-30 World Immunization week – Please spread the word
Guest Speaker Lorri Detta
Lorri joined Food4Kids on Jan 4th 2022 as the new executive director. Previously serving in leadership roles at several other local charities, including Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region and KW Habilitation.
Founded by Kelly Sue Oberle in 2016. Food 4 Kids saw a need for several kids who were going hungry. Today the organization serves 910 children across 49 of the 150 schools in the region.
Lorri noted that 10% of the households in the region are chronically hungry or food in secure.
Consistent hunger can affect children for life.
The organization has 5 full time staff members and over 200 volunteers.
Grants, donations and fundraising enable the team to provide customized food packages to needy children.
These packages are delivered discreetly to kids in the backpacks on Fridays or directly to their homes.
Early intervention will enable kids to succeed.
Lorri Detta spoke about her own life story where she and her brothers were helped by a generous couple who looked after them. She and her brothers went on to graduate high school and college and become successful adults. She noted had the couple not intervened she would have probably ended in a much different situation.
Food 4 kids is looking for board members and volunteer drivers.
Q & A – Graham asked why there is a need for this organization? Why can't the food bank help these families or kids. Lorri noted that the food bank isn’t able to provide for everyone and their opening hours are limited. Many at risk families have a single parent who is working multiple jobs to make ends meet and do not have the ability to get to the food bank. Kids can’t get to the foodbank on their own either. Food 4 kids brings the food to the kids.
Lorri was presented with a certificate of eye sight restoration thanking her for her visit and speech.
1:20 – meeting was adjourned
Rotary Duties for April 27
Sgt at Arms-John Thompson
Asst Sgt At Arms-Andrew Williams
Greeter-Ian Robertson
Intro Speaker-Bill Green
Thank Speaker-Chris Ainsworth
Invocation-John Rose
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