Happy shrieks of children in the water park at Carnarvon Park and girls studying in Malawi schools mark the geographical spectrum of change Oak Bay Rotarians.

The club aims to feed body and mind globally.

A huge coup for the group is the multi-club (and Victoria Foundation among others) Food Rescue Project, where perishable food from grocery stores is re-distributed to vulnerable populations in the community, said longtime Oak Bay Rotary member Lorna Curtis who serves as district governor, leading one of the largest districts in North America with more than 91 clubs.

With food security a rapidly growing concern, the facility couldnB次元官网网址檛 open fast enough for the groups involved.

B次元官网网址淚t took four years to make it happen,B次元官网网址� Curtis said.

These days, the Food Security Distribution Centre rescues and receives more than 10,000 pounds of food each week day from over 32 local grocery stores and donors distributes it through 75 regional social service agencies. When it first launched in 2017, some 30,000 people from across Greater Victoria accessed the provisions and now itB次元官网网址檚 closer to 50,000, she noted.

ItB次元官网网址檚 among the endeavours members will celebrate on the clubB次元官网网址檚 50th anniversary on July 24 B次元官网网址� with a dinner at the Uplands Golf Club, where the first club meeting took place July 24,1974.

The group is B次元官网网址渃ommitted to helping the local and international community,B次元官网网址� Curtis said.

Another significant, ongoing local project is setting up and maintaining the rotary education fund for Threshold Housing. The non-profit organization offers safe housing, support, recovery, community and prevention for youth aged 15 to 24 at risk of homelessness.

B次元官网网址淭hreshold Housing does a lot to look after these young people in our community who need help,B次元官网网址� Curtis said.

The education has funded $10,000 each year for the past three years for a student to pursue post-secondary education whether thatB次元官网网址檚 tuition, books or living expenses.

B次元官网网址淭hese kids donB次元官网网址檛 always have the opportunity or support system to get funds for scholarships so this helps give them a leg up,B次元官网网址� Curtis said.

The Carnarvon water park, the first in the region according to Curtis, back to 1990, and is likely up next for some funding.

B次元官网网址淭housands and thousands of kids in our Greater Victoria community have used that park, but itB次元官网网址檚 tired, the whole park is tired,B次元官网网址� she said.

While the club has socked away a small sum of cash for that project B次元官网网址渨e probably need to raise more," Curtis added.

The park upgrades are still in the planning phases by the District of Oak Bay.

Members give time and talent locally as well, from Christmas hamper distribution and bell-ringing at kettles for the Salvation Army to creating and distributing backpacks of essentials for kids heading back to school each fall.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e also a volunteer group where, if thereB次元官网网址檚 help needed, weB次元官网网址檙e there,B次元官网网址� Curtis said.

The club also supports international projects both as a group and through individual members who take on special projects, Curtis said.

B次元官网网址淭he whole idea of rotary is to do service in your community locally and internationally and thereB次元官网网址檚 lots of mechanisms within rotary to fund some of these projects.B次元官网网址�

Oak Bay is among the rotary groups that support education in the African country of Malawi where students, girls in particular, tend to drop out after primary school. Another member is keen on working to help grandmothers raising their grandchildren in Rwanda.

Another is involved in a Guatemala project, helping residents get into trades and another who travels there to provide dental work.

Fundraisers are to support the programs vary, from the traditional bottle drive (the next one is Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Bay High) to the more unusual flag subscription program.

In 2023, that program marked a decade of residents as far off as Sooke subscribing to have a Canadian flag planted in their yards for the Victoria Day, Canada Day, B.C. Day and Labour Day weekends.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always coming up with something different and unique that will inspire people to donate or help us. There are so many good organizations out there that are looking for funds and theyB次元官网网址檙e all doing good work in the community,B次元官网网址� Curtis said.

It started with 100 flags, and they now plant 500 each summer.

As part of the 50-year celebration, and to support its many endeavours, the Oak Bay Rotary hosts an online auction July 21 to 27 at oakbayrotary.ca.

B次元官网网址淭his is how we raise money to support these projects.B次元官网网址�