It was a jam-packed year for the Rotary Club of Sandton.
According to the president of the club Andrew Smith, each one of their activities was aimed at assisting the community and reaching more people in need.
Earlier in the year, the club hosted a blood drive at Sandton City, with much-needed blood donated by shoppers and Rotarians, and a fun day at the Field and Study Park in Parkmore which hosted people from the South Africa Special Olympics and the Harley Davidson clubs.
“The South African Special Olympics team and the Harley Davidson clubs combine their efforts to host intellectually handicapped young adults and teenagers with some nice eats and cool drinks, some great team sports such as football, volleyball and tug-of-war, a magician show, some great boerewors rolls and we end off with the favourite – a ride on the back of a Harley around the fields,” said Smith.
“It is fair to suggest the Rotarians enjoyed the day as much as the participants.”
Rotary Sandton’s highly anticipated Poetry Competition and Yards of Arts exhibition also took place, highlighting the phenomenal skills of artists from across the community.
“This year we attracted over 370 entries from pupils at over 25 schools [for the Poetry Competition]. Sifting through the entries was a mammoth task and the entries were so good it was very difficult to decide on the winners.”
Another highlight for the club was a blanket drive hosted at Nicolway Shopping Centre, asking passersby for donations to purchase blankets for the less fortunate.
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From the collections, the Rotarians were able to purchase 270 blankets.
Smith added that no year would be complete without several river clean-ups along the Braamfontein Spruit. The local service group gathered for four clean-ups, clearing the river of garbage and debris.
“There are thankfully many groups who are assisting with keeping the stream and surrounds reasonably tidy, and some who are even planting beautiful gardens along the banks – we mention particularly Gail Williams and her team of Spruit Gardens who we collaborate with often.”
As the Rotary Club of Sandton looks ahead to the new year, Rotarians would like to thank the community for its continued support, concluded Smith.
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