MID SUFFOLK ROTARY ACTS SWIFTLY TO VENEZUELAN EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

In light of this humanitarian crisis, the club has agreed to fund a ShelterBox, providing emergency shelter and essential supplies to some of the most deprived victims of the disaster.

Mid Suffolk Rotary has moved quickly to put to good use much of the £650 profit raised at the Woolpit Steam Fair at the end of May. Shortly after the event, news broke of the devastating earthquake in Venezuela, which has caused destruction on a vast scale and left countless families without shelter or basic necessities.

In light of this humanitarian crisis, the club has agreed to fund a ShelterBox, providing emergency shelter and essential supplies to some of the most deprived victims of the disaster. ShelterBoxes are designed to offer immediate, practical relief to families who have lost everything, and the club is proud to support this vital work at a time of urgent need.

A ShelterBox is a robust, green, waterproof container designed to deliver life‑saving emergency shelter and essential tools to families who have lost their homes through disaster or conflict. Each box is tailored to the needs of the specific crisis, but typically includes:

A high‑quality family tent engineered to withstand extreme weather, providing a safe, private space for up to ten people.
Thermal blankets and ground mats to help families stay warm and dry.
Water purification equipment, such as filters or purification tablets, enabling access to safe drinking water when local supplies are contaminated.
A basic tool kit — hammers, saws, ropes, and fixings — allowing families to repair damaged structures or begin rebuilding.
Solar lighting, giving households a reliable source of light and improving safety after dark.
Cooking equipment, including a stove, pans, utensils, and eating sets, so families can prepare hot meals again.
Children’s items, such as activity packs, to offer comfort and a sense of normality during upheaval.

The contents are chosen to help a family survive the immediate aftermath of disaster and start the long process of recovery with dignity and independence. ShelterBox works closely with local partners and Rotary clubs worldwide to ensure aid reaches the hardest‑hit communities quickly and effectively.

Mid Suffolk Rotary meets every two weeks, usually at the Four Horseshoes in Thornham. New members and visitors are always welcome.

For further information, please contact richard@tingeys.co.uk.

'What We Do' Main Pages:

CHEQUE GIVEN TO STOWMARKET BOYS BRIGADE

A cheque for £400 was presented by Rodney Tate to Captain Martin Gray of the Stowmarket Boys Brigade towards the running costs of their minibus.

Links to other sites

The concert was held on 22nd June 2024. Raised £1300 net to the Hospice. We are very grateful to the St Edmundsbury Male Voice Choir and soloist Jess Hughes. A magnificent performance was enjoyed by all who attended.

Paul Riches of the Meadlands Men's Shed uses the new sand blaster.

The Meadlands Men's Shed in Stowmarket are given enough money to buy a new sand blaster.

NAME CHANGE HAS HAPPENED

The website is now called Mid Suffolk Rotary. This is to reflect the fact that we now cover a much larger area and has been approved by RGB&I. Our previous name was the Rotary Club of Stowmarket Gipping Valley.

Two pairs of specialist gloves were donated to Shaftesbury Icanhoe for use with people who find it difficult to grip items.

This is to make sure that a whole school of children benefit from a Christmas lunch.

Banners celebrating the club's success in supporting Rotary Foundation Charity were presented at a meeting of the District Council.

We have collected at Tesco on Stowmarket for hampers to be given to needy families in the area. £330 was collected from the ever generous public.

President Guy presents book vending machine to school and student chooses a book.

President Guy Wiltshear presented a Book Vending Machine to Daniel Pettitt, the Headteacher and Hannah Flory, the Deputy Head of Abbot's Hall Community Primary School.

You can join Rotary as a business and get help and support from an international organisation, as well as support from other local businesses and Mid Suffolk Rotary.

Jon Lacey, the Chief Officer of the Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service was given a cheque to go towards purchasing more fire alarms for vulnerable people in the county.

Cheques were presented to the Moses Project and a wheel for a wheelchair.

The Club raised over £800 for local charities at Woolpit Steam Rally

We are delighted that our participating businesses have managed to raise so much money in our Giant Easter Egg draws.

Our team won the Haverhill Quiz. Photo shows (left to right) Philip Freeman, Richard Tingey (president), Sarah Waspe and Tim Evans.

Peter Andrews who leads our Smoke Alarm project presented a cheque for £7000 to Jon Lacey, Chief Fire Officer.

We are very grateful to Margaret and Guy for arranging our Quiz evening and John Player as Quiz master. A good time was had by everyone and congratulations to the winners the Bury Abbey Rotary Club.

A charity concert in aid of Cancer Support Suffolk has raised nearly £1600. The event was compered by Mark Murphy MBE who used to have a popular programme on Radio Suffolk.

Members of the Mid Suffolk Rotary Club take part in the Stowmarket Town litter pick.

We are proud to announce we made nearly £1125 to support local charities this year.

Mid Suffolk Rotary raised £656 at the Woolpit Steam Rally! A huge thank you to our fund raising team leader Margaret Woollam and all our members who helped out.

A certificate marking £100000 raised since the smoke alarm scheme was started by Mid Suffolk Rotary was presented. Also a further cheque for £2000 was handed over.

In light of this humanitarian crisis, the club has agreed to fund a ShelterBox, providing emergency shelter and essential supplies to some of the most deprived victims of the disaster.

The club was represented at the recent Stowmarket Carnival on Saturday 15th July.

The Rotary Club of Stowmarket Gipping Valley continues to support Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.

A street collection was held in Stowmarket to support relief for this disaster.

The Project provides a Moses basket full of all the items both mother and baby need for the first few weeks of the baby's life.

We had an interesting talk from Mike Smith of the Stowmarket Food Bank. A cheque for £500 was presented on behalf of the club by Kevin Widdick, President Elect

At the Mendlesham Street Fayre barrow of booze a hamper was raffled and the winning ticket was drawn by the May Day Queen. This raised £460. Thanks are due to resident Val Remington-Hobbs for loan of the gazebo and other support.

This features the fundraising activities we have undertaken since 2022.

Unique features of a Rotarian . . . .

Presentation to the club.

The Club held a street collection in Stowmarket to support shelterbox in supporting those effected by the earthquake in Morocco.

Member Rod Curtis organised on behalf of the club some warm clothing and a bench for the Stowmarket Town Youth under 11 team who come under the auspices of the Stowmarket Town Football Club.

Stpwmarket and Gipping Valley Rotary club are well ahead on this initiative.

A litter pick was organised by the Stowmarket Town Council in which Rotary gave a helping hand. The photo shows the Rotary volunteers waiting for the ‘off’.

We organised a stand at the recent (March 2024) Business Exhibition run by the Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce. Many useful contacts were made, and possible businesses being made ‘Friends of Rotary’. The photo shows club president Guy Wiltshear in front

Each year we raffle Easter Eggs in local pubs and businesses.

Over 2 days at the end of November, members of the club collected £775 for local good causes.

This years Club President presenting the RYLA Award to Megan

Stowmarket Gipping Valley Rotary Club makes an annual donation of dictionaries to local schools. The photograph shows this years President delivering books to Gt Finborough school.

Some of the club’s previous activities. The photo shows the recent presentation to Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service - see below. Note the Rotary emblem on the fire truck.