I’ve been a Sunriser for 6 years now. Being a retired army officer, I have enjoyed every part of this new approach to being in a ‘service club’! What a rush … What a great way to give back to the community …
Whilst it hasn’t hampered our Rotary work, we have been a bit ‘gypsy-like’ insofar as our having a place we could call home (reminiscent of the early Paul Harris meetings?). In my short time, we’ve met in no fewer than 5 places – I suppose a good way to get to know the community but a little less than stable!
Along the way, we supported and came to know, a local organization called Church Out Serving (COS). As an ecumenical community support group that practices its love of community, they have initiated a new project to purchase the abandoned Simcoe Liquor Store and turn it into a community food-hub, a welcoming place for everyone to experience food and friendship in a new way. It will also include support for the disadvantaged in Norfolk County who are dealing with hunger, dietary, and other food-related issues. Our Club immediately saw the value in this and jumped in. Our partnership and support in this important community development initiative have been a wonderful experience for all of us involved.
We have provided moral support and helped to promote the work in the community. We have provided financial support and partnered with many other community agents who are helping to fund the development. Importantly, we have seized on the work as a way to provide a ‘sweat-equity’ contribution. In order to defray the facility costs, to date, the ‘Riversyde 83’ project has benefited from no fewer than 6,000 volunteer hours, of which Rotary has contributed almost 10% - what a great feeling.
We’re proud of what we have been and are able to support. We toured District Governor Bob Artis through the facility on his recent visit to Norfolk County – his reaction was to seek a re-invitation to Norfolk to participate in the grand opening of this Riversyde 83 initiative!
Goodness only knows when that might be now. When we get through the current Covid-19, work stoppage there are only several months of work to go to see
the end. Then, just maybe, this will be our new home as we take advantage of a great, new COS facility that reflects our concern with, and support of, the disadvantaged in our own community.
Pictured above left: RCNS members providing a symbol of their support to the Riversyde 83 Community Support Facility in Simcoe – from the left – Jim Simpson (Chair, Community Service), Rudi Atkinson (President Norfolk Sunrise), Ross Gibbons (Constr Manager), Eric Haverkamp (Board Chair, Church Out Serving), Ross Gowan (Rotary Sunrise), Mary Mercato (Chair Communications) and Keith Jones (Past President Norfolk Sunrise).
Pictured right: Keith Flexman, Norfolk Sunrise, Bob Stevenson AG, Bob Artis, DG, Rudi Atkinson, Norfolk Sunrise President, Eric Haverkamp, Board Chair, COS.
