2020 Community Investments

 

 

Better At Home Christmas Dinners

WQBA Hampers

 

QCYSS "Sowing the Seeds of Connection"

 

 

 

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to help Literacy Quesnel establish a community learning centre to fill a programming gap in local education and learnig services.

 

The downturn in the forestry industry (an inevitable outcome of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation) resulted in many displaced workers needing to upgrade skills in their pursuit of new employment. The Quesnel Community Learning Centre is designed and dedicated to removing barriers for students with limited resources who seek to further their education. Free computer access, Student driven learning, and volunteer tutors. 

 

Rotary contributed $2,400, including a grant from the Rotary Foundation, invested to help equip the Centre - projector, chairs, a wheelchair accessible desk, plexiglass partitions (a COVID-19 health provision), laptop, USB sticks for clients (since their work isn't saved on the computers due to security features), and window blinds to keep out the afternoon sun.

 

 

 

 

Amata Transition House has not had to purchase dry goods like bed linen and towels for years, because they have been the regular recipient of such donations from our generous community. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted not only fundraising activities but also the ability to accept such donations-in-kind for fear of transference of the virus.

 

So we were delighted to have the opportunity to address another COVID-related shortfall by donating $2,500 in response to their funding application.

 

We presented our donation at our lunchtime meeting of September 3rd (our first in-person luncheon back at the Legion since March 12th!) at which Executive Director Lauren Johnson and Residence Coordinator Rhonda Mercer told us about the truly essential services offered by Amata Transition House.

 

 

 

 

School students across the province of British Columbia rely on school breakfast and lunch programs to fill their tummy’s on school days. When it comes to the weekend, however, they don’t always have the food they need. The Starfish Pack Program was designed to help change that - each pack contains enough food for 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and snacks to hungry students each weekend of the school year.

 

When we heard about the Program (details here), we decided we needed to bring it to Quesnel and, with Quesnel Tillicum Society willing and eager to take lead in delivering the Program, we knew we could do so on a long-term, sustainable basis (just one practical advantage of QTS running the Program is their ability to issue donation tax receipts).

 

With the assistance of a grant from the Rotary Foundation, we were able to contribute a total of $3,000 to help get the Program established.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For over ten years, the North Quesnel Community Garden had grown and flourished in a designated area on the grounds behind Quesnel Junior School off McNaughton Avenue. 

 

 

With the demolition of QJS and, in time, the reversion of ownership of the land back to the province, an unfortunate side-effect was the Garden needing to be completely cleared. That didn't just mean what was planted but also their infrastucture of a greenhouse, gazebo (which we helped fund and build back in 2012), and storage shed. Obviously the Gardeners didn't want to see these assets destroyed so they arranged for temporary housing and we covered the cost of the hiab service to lift and transport.

 

We look forward to seeing the garden back in full bloom when a new permanent location is found.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below, 2019-20 President Simon Turner presents Kassondra Schwab and Ashley Rodgers with our Grant for $1,000 to Quesnel Pride Society, at our lunchtime meeting of 20th February 2020.

 

The funds were awarded in connection with their 2020 Pride Parade weekend activities.