December 2021 Newsletter: The Stanford Shout-Out 

Welcome to our December issue of the Stanford Shout-Out. All of us here at Stanford Rotary would like to wish you, our loyal supporters, a wonderful and safe Festive Season. We would also like to thank you most sincerely for your generosity throughout the year; your contributions have allowed us to make a significant difference in the lives of those in need in our community.

FOOD KITCHENS / HAPPY HAMPERS

With our Soup Kitchens closing over Christmas and New Year, we’ll be providing Happy Hampers, albeit in the form of vouchers, to households in genuine need. The need this year, still higher than in previous years, is 400. If you’d like to contribute to the campaign, the cost of a voucher is R200.

TUBS FOR THE KITCHENS Please be so kind as to keep any yoghurt and ice cream tubs (or similar), with lids, for our Soup Kitchens. This is an ongoing need, as children in particular often arrive at the kitchens with no container. These can be left at the Tourism office for collection.

OVERBERG TOY RUN

This took place on Sunday 28th November. The rain didn’t dampen the generous spirit of the bikers who roared up to the Birkenhead loaded with lovely toys. After being sorted the toys were shared between Rotary Clubs of Stanford, Hermanus and Greyton, Lions Clubs from Gansbaai and Bredasdorp, Round Table in Caledon, Share in Gansbaai and Helpende Hande in Bredasdorp. Toys are distributed far and wide in the Overberg putting smiles on many little faces.

A huge thank you to the bikers who braved the elements - we look forward to seeing you again in 2022.

SUNSET MARKET RAFFLE

We really appreciate your support of our raffle at the monthly Sunset Market. The December market will be on Friday 17th and we have some particularly stunning prizes up for grabs. Do come and have a look, buy a ticket or three and hold thumbs. You could walk off with an amazing hamper of goodies.

OKKIE SMUTS KOSHUIS

Through our friends at Stichting Sprokies vir Afrika in the Netherlands, we purchased new duvet covers and pillowcases for the dormitories at the Koshuis. A firm favourite of any child is a ball so tennis, soccer and netballs were also provided for some outdoor activity. The balls had to be pumped up (with bicycle pumps) to the delight of the children, who all had a turn.

EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS - OUR LATEST PROJECT

Rotary International has asked every Rotary club in the world to do a project empowering women and/or girls during this year. At Stanford Rotary we are planning to run a series of workshops at Die Bron School for the grade 7 girls about their developing bodies and puberty, boundaries, assertiveness, choices, relationships, conception, contraception, STD’s and any other topics that may arise. The course will be presented to the grade 7 boys as well. These two courses are scheduled to run in the first two weeks of February next year.

WELCOMING A NEW MEMBER

We’re always excited to welcome new members into our Club and were fortunate to do just that in November when Marlene Gracie joined our ranks. Marlene was a Rotarian in Johannesburg before relocating to Stanford. A retired school teacher, Marlene has already brought a new energy into the Club and will be an asset with her particular skill set and experience within Rotary.

COMING UP IN 2022...

 • Stationery Packs for the Schools to assist students

 • School Clothes for children in need

 • Early Childhood Development assistance with materials

 • Planning for Winter Warmth

 • Penguin Plunge in June

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT JOINING ROTARY?

Rotary welcomes new members - it’s a way of expanding our talent base as well as having extra willing hands. New members bring new ideas, new perspectives and help us stay fresh. When people join Rotary they do so not with the thought of “what will I get out of it?” but rather “what can I contribute, how can I help and how can I be of service?”

The Rotary Motto “Service Above Self” is an acknowledgement that it’s better to “get stuck in” and get a sense of achievement rather than just letting things stay the same.

You WILL get something out of Rotary - but it won’t be what you expect - it will be better!

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.

Tubs for the soup kitchens, egg boxes and cereal boxes for our ECD program.

Yarn or knitted items for our Winter Warmth project.

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 Hampers, Food, Schools, etc and your name

We are a registered Public Benefit Organization: #930051075

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.