Kenora to sponsor pilot  NOW program in community schools.

Submitted by Lloyd Mack

Ten years ago, the Rotary Club of Kenora established its Health and Hunger committee in response to 2008-09 RI President Dong Kim Lee’s direction to keep the service emphasis of previous years — water, health and hunger, and literacy — but to focus our efforts in each of those areas on children. Learning that close to 35 per cent of all youth across the Kenora riding live in poverty, led to us to ask community organisations what they are doing, where the gaps may be and where Rotary might play a role. One question raised was - What do children accessing school nutrition programs do on weekends and school holidays?
 
The Health and Hunger committee studied the Northwestern Health Unit’s Nutrition on Weekends (NOW) program guide and decided to play a role as a facilitator to introduce the first pilot NOW program in Kenora. We are partnering with King George School and on March 22 will begin supplying healthy food for the remaining 15 weekends of the school year to children identified who could benefit from the program. 
 
The Rotary Club of Kenora’s role will be accessing funding, purchasing food and packing the weekend bags that will be handed out discreetly by the child’s teacher on the last school day before the weekend or a school break. Children identified will receive two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks, a fruit and vegetable each weekend.
 
Our club organised a new fundraiser in conjunction with the city’s Winter Carnival the first weekend of March -the Frozen Fiesta Gala. The support of major sponsors helped raise the $3,500 needed to finance the pilot program. 
 
The committee will also evaluate the ongoing need of the program and anticipate it growing to other schools in our community. The growth of the program will be as funding permits. The Health and Hunger committee will consult the schools about dispersing the funding equitably and about meeting the greatest need.
 
For more information, you are welcome to contact Rotary Club of Kenora’s Health and Hunger co-chairs Lloyd Mack @ macks@bell.net or Stacey Szajewski @ stacey@mykenora.com.

 

Kenora honours community members of outstanding service

Submitted by John Dahl

 
Paul Harris Dinner- The Kenora club recognises 1 or 2 individuals in our community each year and presents them with a Paul Harris Fellowship the 3rd week in February. Dinner is in the evening at a hall or local restaurant not at a regular Rotary meeting. We try to keep costs down ($30-$40) and ticket price should cover expenses. We try to invite as many previous PHF citizens as possible. District Governor is invited and attends if possible. If in attendance, the DG makes a presentation on Paul Harris and his importance to Rotary. Each candidate receives an introduction summarising their contributions to the community. The media cover the event. We have always had a good turn-out of about sixty as partners join in.  It is a great way to educate Rotarians and citizens about what Rotary does.

 

Kenora on track to make a “Big Splash” to celebrate their 100th anniversary!

Submitted by Deb LeMaistre

 
Anticipation at the Rotary Club of Kenora has been growing as the club’s special legacy project to celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Kenora undergoes construction.
 
 We are creating a splash park to say thank you to our community for all the support they've given us over the years for our projects and programs.
 
Starting in January 2015, we began to fundraise to build the new fully accessible splash park for children.  We are nearing $600,000. Construction has been underway since last summer, and it is scheduled to be in operation on July 1, 2019.
 
 
The Splash Park Grand Opening Celebration occurs on July 6th 2019 at Norman Park. Rotarians and guests from across our district and beyond are all invited to come and share in the festivities! We’re going to make a BIG SPLASH!
 
Go Directly to the Next NWO Club:

Submitted by John Borst

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