Market Drayton Rotary celebrates a rewarding first year
A rotary club has reached its first anniversary and can look back at a challenging first year but one in which they have supported those in need.
Rotary in Market Drayton was set up just before England’s first coronavirus lockdown which created challenges but members raised funds for a food bank and provided self-isolating and vulnerable people with some much-needed comfort.
Alan Cartwright, on behalf of the club, wrote: “A year ago the future for the new organisation looked less certain as the pandemic put a brake on face-to-face meetings and recruitment efforts.
“However, we discovered that Market Drayton Foodbank was in urgent need of help with its food collections and deliveries and we have been working alongside it ever since.
“The partnership has resulted in a strong bond between the two.
“On the cancellation of Market Drayton’s Christmas Market, where we had booked a stall, in November, the Rotary group simply switched to raising funds for the food bank and other projects by producing a catalogue that enabled it to sell sales items created by its members and friends.
“Not long after the Rotarians had begun assisting the food bank, they were also able to help Shropshire Wildlife Trust expand its Feed the Birds scheme into North Shropshire.
"The scheme is aimed at improving the lives of local residents living in isolation by providing them with bird feeders and regularly replenished quantities of seed, paving the way for more regular communication.
“The latest venture, at the end of February, was undertaken after the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust had raised concerns that Covid patients were often leaving hospital in surgical gowns following their treatment in the absence of any other clothing.
“Thanks to the generosity of Morrisons, a collection of pyjamas and nightwear took place in the store’s garden centre with tremendous results.”
Rotary in Market Drayton is open to everyone who wishes to contribute to the local community.
Call Alan Hudson on 07802 726856 for details.
