The Club held its cheque presentation lunch on 26th February at Orsett Hall and invited all of the charities we had supported over the Christmas period and representatives from third party businesses who helped the Club in its collection efforts. In total the Club collected a record £13,300 from three activities: our Christmas Sleigh around the streets of Thurrock; collections at local supermarkets; and through a Club Christmas card initiative.
Cheques for £3,250 each were presented to the representatives of, Barnardo’s, Little Havens Children’s Hospice and the Treetops School. A cheque in the same amount was also sent to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital who couldn’t attend. The charities thanked the Club and the generosity of the people of Thurrock and explained how important the funding was for their charities.
The Club also thanked the three Supermarkets for their support – Tesco Stores at Lakeside, Morrisons at Corringham and ASDA at Tilbury. Smith’s Orchard Garden Centre were also thanked for once again providing cash counting services as were the teachers from Treetops School who collected with us on one night and to Mark Chambers from District who helped out another night. The Christmas collections are where the whole Club pulls together by providing their time and effort to man the sleigh and collect outside the supermarkets , sometimes in some very inhospitable weather and is a fine example especially at this time of year of the Rotary moto, ‘service above self’.