In common with many other organisations, the Rotary Club of Kirkcudbright was hit hard by Covid-19 during 2020 Not only have our regular weekly meetings at the Selkirk Arms Hotel been impossible, but normal fundraising activities have had to be suspended, while our spending plans for projects and events have also been severely disrupted.
However, we continue to meet fortnightly using Zoom and have found novel ways of raising funds and supporting local, national and international causes. Here are a few examples:
Our Advent Book project in the run-up to Christmas has proved enormously successful. Huge thanks to local businesses and individuals, as well as Club members and their families, for supporting this effort which has raised over £3800. This will be split between the Johnston School Youth Programme and a clean water programme for rural Sri Lanka.
Also on the International front, Rotary members and friends have donated a total of 59 “shoeboxes,” containing small presents and essentials for some of Eastern Europe’s poorest families in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine, while we have also been able to donate an Aquabox to help provide clean drinking water for refugees in Yemen.
Through our Youth committee, we have been able to fund two young people from Kirkcudbright Academy to take part in a Remote RYLA (Rotary Young Leaders Award), a virtual experience rather than the usual residential activity experience. The success of this has encouraged us to look at how this “virtual” model could be used to deliver other activities for local young people. We have already agreed to support a virtual “Young Musician” competition which will be held in Kirkcudbright Academy in February 2021.
Our ‘Young Photographer” competition for young people from Kirkcudbright and the surrounding area has also proved very successful, attracting more than 100 entries. All entries will be displayed in the Tolbooth and The Galleries in Kirkcudbright from January 18th until March 28th.
Rotary continues to support the international fight against Polio, having raised more than $2.1 billion worldwide. Now, with Covid on our doorstep, each of us understands the importance of immunisation and, with your help, we will continue to contribute to the ultimate eradication of this disease.
Finally, Club member Mike Duguid and his wife Pat have distributed several patchwork lap quilts, made by Pat, to lonely or poorly residents in and around the Twynholm area.
Thanks to all for your continued support.
