Brantford Clubs Do Sweat Equity

Posted 
on May 31, 2009
 

The Brantford Sunrise Rotary, Brantford Rotary and the newly chartered Rotaract Clubs have joined forces to host the city's first ever Rotary at Work Day. On a hot morning on Saturday, May 23, about a dozen Rotarians could be seen hauling dirt, literally getting their hands dirty by landscaping in a much needed volunteer effort for Participation House Brantford.

 

 

  "We are so pleased that Rotarians have chosen us as the first recipient," says Sherry Kerr, executive director of Participation House Brantford which supports people with physical disabilities. "We began a courtyard project last fall to create a safe, accessible place for residents here to enjoy the outdoors. We just do not have the funds to hire a professional landscaper."

 

Participation House Brantford currently supports 26 residents at Bell Lane, and 33 at their West Street apartment complex. They also partner with Community Living on an Aging At Home project that provides respite services to people with disabilities. Their mandate is that everyone has the right to live equally in society.  

 

"We have partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association's Brant County Branch," said Kerr. "As part of their day program, clients come to Participation House to look after some of our flower beds and are working to bring our greenhouse back to life."  

"The purpose of Rotary at Work Day was created to do something of service for our community that gives fellow citizens an opportunity to participate in what we're all about which is community involvement," says Jennifer Middleton, President of the Brantford Rotaract Club. "This is the start to an annual event. It is one day when every Rotary Club in the entire world is doing something of service to their community."

 

"I learned about Rotary at Work Day at last year's RYLA conference in Los Angeles and was inspired to start it here to bring the community together," said Middleton.

 

"What began in 2006 as a joint effort between two Rotary Districts, one in the United States and one in Mexico, Rotarians at Work Day is taking the world by storm," said Middleton. "Clubs identify a hands-on project that all members can participate in to help their local community.  Last year, 450 community based projects around the world were completed by over 13,000 Rotary volunteers."  

 

Rotary at Work Day activities typically include park clean-ups, painting schools, children's workshops, and landscaping needs like those of Participation House.