Our Projects
1000x5
What is our 1000x5 project?
Our signature project to provide books for children to have heard/read 1000 books by age 5!
For some families, books are a luxury. Literacy is not a luxury – it is needed by every child before entering kindergarten!
Our signature project to provide books for children to have heard/read 1000 books by age 5!
For some families, books are a luxury. Literacy is not a luxury – it is needed by every child before entering kindergarten!
How do we help?
We collect gently used books from donors and through book drives at our school partners and purchase baby books from partner publishers in BC.
After sorting and cleaning the books go to the Vancouver School District for distribution through the StrongStart program. The books are gifts – to take home and to be read again and again.
Since launching the project in 2020, over 7000 books have been given to children.
We collect gently used books from donors and through book drives at our school partners and purchase baby books from partner publishers in BC.
After sorting and cleaning the books go to the Vancouver School District for distribution through the StrongStart program. The books are gifts – to take home and to be read again and again.
Since launching the project in 2020, over 7000 books have been given to children.
Medical Equipment and Supplies to Ukraine
We loaded and shipped two containers to Ukraine filled with medical equipment and supplies donated by local health authorities, hospitals and suppliers. The most needed items shipped included hospital beds and specialized mattresses, ventilators, incubators, diagnostic and surgical equipment – with a mattress bearing a Canadian flag as the final item so it is the first thing the recipients in Ukraine see when the container is opened.
Thank you to our partners Rotary World Help and Ukrainian Canadian Social Services, and our amazing volunteer team!
North Shore Rescue 
We donated $5000 to this volunteer community-based search and rescue team that provides an important life-saving service to the public – mountain SAR, helicopter rescue, urban SAR, civil emergency response.
Surf Rider
Surfrider Foundation Vancouver is an entirely volunteer-run team dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the ocean, beaches and waves for all people. In addition to donating to support their good work, we enjoy joining other volunteers for a beach clean-up!
BURSARIES
We provided eight $1,000 bursaries to deserving students at the following schools:
- Kitsilano Secondary School
- Lord Byng Secondary School
- Point Grey Secondary School
- Prince of Wales Secondary School
- Fraser Academy
ROTARY HOOP-A-THON
In Rotary our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support education and literacy, and to reduce gender disparity in education. Rotary Hoop-A-Thon, held annually at the Strathcona Community Centre, helps us make that happen. We provided two $2,000 scholarships and a $1,000 donation to Girls Who Leap!
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
RYLA is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary districts where young people develop their leadership skills, communication and problem-solving skills. They learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers and peer mentors while having fun and forming lasting friendships!
We sponsored nine youth from our community to attend RYLA this spring.
Aunt Leah's Trees
For many years we have been volunteers at Aunt Leah’s Trees on Granville St.
100% of tree sale profits help support their programs to prevent youth from foster care from becoming homeless by providing homes, life skills, employment and education programs.
Backpack Buddies
Backpack Buddies helps feed BC’s most vulnerable kids by providing food that is easy to prepare so they get through the weekend without going hungry.
We help to fill the bags that are distributed through schools - knowing that local children are receiving food to nourish them over the weekend feeds our spirits!
Harbour Light
Harbour Light provides a continuum of care including community meals, 24-hr and overnight shelter, detox, residential addiction treatment, low-income housing and many programs. We enjoy helping to serve the community meal and engaging with staff and the community.
ABBYFIELD VANCOUVER
The former Vancouver South club began decorating Abbyfield’s Heritage House with festive décor for the holiday season. When those members moved to our club we continued the tradition. It’s an opportunity to spread holiday cheer to local seniors!
Help for those experiencing homelessness
We provided 50 bags of self-care and survival items for distribution through Union Gospel Mission for those living rough in the Downtown East Side.
The items included are ones those experiencing homelessness most require – personal care items, warm socks, gloves, etc.
J.W. SEXSMITH SCHOOL
We have enjoyed supporting the teachers and PTA at J.W. Sexsmith School at this annual holiday pancake breakfast for 25 years+. Students and teachers look forward to it every year and we enjoy seeing their smiling faces and helping students develop an appreciation of volunteerism in school and beyond.
End Polio Walk
On World Polio Day, October 24, we participated in the 2nd annual End Polio walk in Vancouver, with other clubs in our district, to raise funds and awareness to help end polio for good! We also held a social fundraising dinner at Osaka Teppanyaki to help raise additional funds. Thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, our donations to the PolioPlus fund are tripled so more children can be vaccinated!