The Rotarians of the city will be hosting its flagship fund raising event, the annual golf day, on 9 May at the Polokwane Golf Club and businesses and members of the public are urged to make a contribution to the success of this event and in general to the Rotary projects that are aimed at enhancing the lives of people in need.
Orrie Baragwanath, chairperson of the organising committee of the golf day, provided some interesting facts about the activities of the Rotarians in an effort to source support for Rotary’s fund raising efforts.
Baragwanath explained that seventy years ago Rotarians identified a need to assist elderly people who could not afford flats or homes to have a roof over their heads and that it is how Our Home/Ons Tuiste in Suid Street began. Today it stands as a monument of forethought and caring, with 30 single rooms, 23 single flats, 22 chalets and a frail care facility housing 43 people, every one of them financed by the caring citizens of Polokwane. The work, however, continues. The waiting list is currently over 40 people. The wage bill is R240 000 per month and Rotary is at the forefront of managing, developing and caring for the institution.
With the assistance of the people of Polokwane and some as far afield as the USA, Rotary and the Rotary Anns have in the past year provided three meals a week to over 600 children, elderly and physically impaired citizens, collected and distributed over 60 tons of food and vegetables to persons in need and purchased land and developed a shelter at Leeuwkuil. The Rotary clubs of Polokwane and Pietersburg 100 supplied wheel chairs and walkers, received three overseas exchange students, sent three out and assisted excellent young sportsmen and women from the city’s high schools to attend national competitions. The Rotarians assisted Our Home/Ons Tuiste with the planning and hosting of their annual bazaar with the help of the Limpopo Classic Car Club.
Rotary clubs are constantly working at fund raising projects from boerewors stalls at functions to the Oktoberfest, from cycle races to projects like organising the food and refreshments for city functions. They do anything that can make money by using their hands and time.
“Once a year the Rotarians host a Golf Day because we need an identifiable event to hang our quest for funds on. Only a small amount of our funds come from golfers. Most of it comes from donations and sponsors,” Baragwanath concluded.
If you ask what you can do as a caring citizen of this city who makes his living from the community, here are a few suggestions:
Make a donation to Rotary. No amount is too small
Pay a salary of one of the employees for a year or more.
Make a stop order in favour of Rotary for a fixed monthly amount
Ask your suppliers to make a donation to Rotary or sponsor a 4 ball or a green at the golf day
Provide two prizes for golfers at the golf day
Donate building material for the convertion of a large flat at Our Home/Ons Tuiste into three independent units. The flat was purchased from funds left by the late Luther and Gill Eisenburg.
Baragwanath may be contacted on 083 310 2870 or 015 298 8330.
Story and photo: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com
