August 2021 Newsletter: The Stanford Shout-Out

Welcome to our August 2021 issue. July each year heralds the start of the Rotary year and with that comes a new Club President - Annie Ranger - as well as new Rotary International President’s Theme - Serve to Change Lives.

Thank you for joining us in our quest of looking after the poor and vulnerable in our village. We appreciate your continued support - both financial and otherwise - which allows us to do the work on the ground. As you know, we also assist with school clothes and winter warmth at this time of the year - updates on these follow.

SOUP KITCHENS

Our soup kitchen volunteers as well as the Koshuis and Clinic place their weekly orders for ingredients, and we do our best to provide what they require. The meals are always nourishing and delicious, especially if we’re able to supply soup bones.

During the winter months we also provide oranges to the children in the Koshuis - in the summer months it will be apples. Any donations of fruit - even lemons - are welcome.

WINTER WARMTH

Just in time for the cold and wet weather, distributions of blankets, jerseys, fleece tops, track suits, beanies, scarves and gloves took place in June. Over 400 items were handed out to babies, toddlers, children, teens and adults in need of some Winter Warmth.

Here are some pics showing examples of the items distributed. In addition to these, 70 Stormy blankets were also handed out.

Thank you to all who contributed woolly blankets, knitted items and tracksuits (comprising of a knitted jersey, a pair of pants and a pair of socks). Our stock boxes are now empty so please don't stop knitting - we need stock for next year.

SCHOOL CLOTHES

With so many parents having lost their incomes due to Covid and lockdown, the number of children in need of assistance increased tremendously. Lists were drawn up, with the assistance of teachers, of the most needy children - close to 80. Each of these children was provided with a set of school clothes - trousers or skirt, shirt, jersey, rain jacket, shoes and socks. These were handed out to the children who were very excited at receiving some new things, especially the jerseys and rain jackets.

 

NETBALL COURTS

It’s been wonderful seeing the new netball court being used so enthusiastically. Practise and match balls have been purchased, ready for handover to the Stanford Netball Club.

PENGUIN PLUNGE

Due to the Covid third wave and subsequent postponement of our Penguin Plunge Fundraiser, we’re still hoping to go ahead with this event on Saturday 25th September.

Our deep appreciation goes to all the kind people who donated to the Penguin Plunge in June, despite the postponement.

One of our loyal supporters had a milestone celebration and asked for donations to our Plunge in lieu of presents.

Thank you for this wonderful gesture.

MEET OUR MEMBERS: LANA COATES

“I am passionate about Rotary and very proud of what we manage to achieve in Stanford Rotary with so few members,” says Lana.

She joined Rotary in 2012 with a project of teaching local women the skill of knitting. She was shocked that most of them hadn’t learned this skill at school. The end goal was for them to have a little home industry going from which they could earn a small income.

Lana is a person who manages to combine the softest of hearts with an iron fist. The iron fist is the side that oversees our finances. Not a single rand goes to waste and Lana makes sure that every cent of every donation is spent on our community. She upholds the highest Rotary International standards and is a worthy holder of the Paul Harris Rotary Award which she received in 2017.

Lana was our Club President from 2015 to 2017. During her time her focus was on Early Childhood Development, Winter Warmth and Happy Hampers. She was also instrumental in initiating the Netball Court project. As you would have noticed in our newsletters all these projects are ongoing. She is now the treasurer and secretary and general go-to person in Rotary Stanford.

Unbeknown to most of us Lana trained as a classical musician, her instruments of choice being the piano and violin.

The adrenalin junkie side of her saw her racing saloon cars, taking part in off-road 4X4 events and even deep-sea fishing excursions. Her kindness and community service ethic comes from her early years when her family regularly delivered fresh fruit from their trees to local orphanages.

A bit of a rebel - yes!

A committed and loyal person - most definitely.

That’s why we all like working with her - she’s informed, reliable, honest and kind, with a twinkle in her eye too.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

There are many ways, for example donations of food items for our foodbank, fresh vegetables and fruit.

A list of preferred items can be obtained from Lana Coates or Ansie Reitsma.

Financial assistance is always welcome by way of donations into our bank account.

The Rotary Club of Stanford

FNB Hermanus

Account No.: 623 559 796 95

Branch Code: 250655

Ref: Project name, eg Food, Schools, Clothes and your name

WHO TO CONTACT?

Annie Ranger - Club President and Schools (076 130 5531)

Lana Coates - Club Secretary and Treasurer (082 216 4398)

Ansie Reitsma - Soup Kitchens Co-Ordinator (082 320 0982)

Malcolm Bury - Sports and Rural Schools

Worker Bees - Margy Wakefield (Newsletter), and Sandy Pillans (Scribe)

All that remains is to thank you for your time and request that you send this on to friends, especially those who are new in Stanford. Please stay safe and take care.