Grimsby, Grimsby Havelok, Cleethorpes and Louth Rotary are so proud

Local Rotary Clubs support for foodbank and other charities over the past year

It is now a year since Covid 19 restrictions kicked in and impacted on everyone’s lives. In that year, the local Rotary Clubs of Grimsby, Grimsby Havelock, Cleethorpes and Louth are proud to report that they have donated over £25,000 for the benefit of local Foodbanks and similar charities in the North East Lincolnshire and Louth areas.

The outbreak of Covid 19 has seen an unprecedented demand put on to all of the local food charities as well as local support organisations including Women’s Aid, Harbour Place and the Salvation Army.

As a result of the Covid 19 restrictions, no Rotary Clubs have been able to hold their weekly meals, and fundraising has been severely restricted.  Clubs have, therefore, encouraged their members to donate to local charities in lieu of their weekly meal costs. These funds, together with other donations from friends and contributions from the local Rotary District have enabled various local Foodbank and other similar local charities to benefit.

The money raised has enabled donations in North East Lincolnshire to be made to The Rock Foundation, We Are One Foundation, Grimsby Food Kitchen, the Salvation Army and St. Peters Church Hall Foodbank. Donations have also been made to Grimsby Women's Aid and Harbour Place.

Both Rock Foundation and We Are One Foundation support hundreds of needy families and people each week through their Foodbanks. We Are One also provide families in need with hot meals.

Grimsby Food Kitchen help the homeless, the most vulnerable in this area with hot meals twice a week plus support with a recovery program.

The Salvation Army offers help and support to those who need it most, including at their Hostel in Grimsby.

In Cleethorpes, the St. Peters Church Hall Foodbank has been recently set up providing a weekly soup kitchen and food parcels for the needy.

The North East Lincolnshire Women’s Aid works to support victims of domestic violence whilst Harbour Place continues to support rough sleepers and homeless people throughout the area.

In the Louth Area the charities to benefit have been the Louth Community Larder, Salvation Army Louth and the Neighbours Kitchen Louth.

The Louth Community Larder supplies three meals a day, four days a week to needy families and individuals.

Louth Salvation Army is supporting lonely and vulnerable people throughout the COVID19 pandemic with a freshly cooked two course lunch, delivered 4 days a week.

The Neighbours Kitchen in Louth have cooked and delivered over 20,000 free meals to the local community in 2020, in addition to providing fresh fruit and veg boxes.

John Clark President of the Rotary Club of Grimsby commented “We would like to thank all of the people who have supported the local Rotary Clubs over the years. All of the clubs have missed their engagement with the public, be it at our Christmas supermarket collections, our litter picking or our other fundraising activities. The Covid 19 pandemic has affected us all, but especially the most vulnerable within our local communities. Through our fundraising activities we have been able to help some of those in need. We will continue to need the generous support of the local people in the future to improve the lives of the most needy in our community.”

The daffodils planted by local Rotary Clubs over many years are now starting to appear on Littlecoates Road in Grimsby, on Hewitts Avenue near Tesco, at Sussex Recreation Ground and at Cleethorpes Golf Club for everyone to enjoy.

This press release ended with a call to action: If anyone is interested in joining a Rotary Club, please visit your local Clubs’ Websites or Facebook pages for further information about what we do.  Members are enthusiastic, fun loving and active volunteers, who give their time and talents to serve communities both at home and abroad. They are dedicated men and women who share a common interest in giving something back to help others.