Rotary Clubs of Kamloops.....

Rotary Clubs of Kamloops

October 2008 saw the Kamloops Food Bank in state of emergency. Funds were low, food on the shelves was running out and client numbers were up..... That is when Rotary came in and saved the day.

All five Rotary groups of Kamloops with help of Rotaract, decided to run a city wide food drive to collect food and fill the empty shelves. This was no easy undertaking. The city has to be divided up into managable areas to collect food. Volunteers had to be organized to collect and sort the food. The city had to be educated to leave a food donation on their door step for pick up. The first food drive was a success with over 15,000 pounds of food collected.

Since the first food drive, 3 more food drives have been held. In total over 97,000 pounds of food has been donated and collected.

The food drives have been a miracle to the Kamloops Food Bank. The number of volunteers that Rotary provides and the number of hours donated by each individual is amazing. There are so many individuals within the Rotary Clubs of Kamloops who are instrumental to the success of the food drives. The passion and committment that Rotary has to the community is truly overhwhelming.

The Kamloops Food Bank feels very blessed to have the dedication and support of such a wonderful group of volunteers who are so involved in their community.

-Kari Smith
Event & Fundraising Coordinator
Kamloops FOod Bank

Community Hero - Dale Bass of Kamloops This Week

Community Hero - Dale Bass of Kamloops This Week

Angels come in many forms and for the Kamloops Food Bank, Dale Bass in one of our angels. Dale has been a reporter for Kamloops This Week for years. She gives a voice to many non-profit agencies in this community and brings awareness to many issues that others may shy away from.

Dale isn't afraid to say what others only think. Her articles cause conversation about issues that can be ignored or swept under the carpet.

Not only does Dale help keep our needs, statistics and information in the spotlight, she helps to organize a yearly fundraiser for the Kamloops Food Bank called "Music Makes Meals". Each November Dale brings together some of the most talented people in Kamloops to put on a show to benfit the Food Bank. It is a night of music that Dale puts her hear into.

Dale's love of music and her passion to give back have benfited the food bank for years. Dale represents what giving back is all about. The Kamloops Fod Bank is lucky to have her on our side.

-Kari Smith
Event & Fundraising Coordinator
Kamloops Food Bank

I would like to submit Gary Archer of Gary’s Maintenance in Niagara for this honour and special mention of community hero.

I would like to submit Gary Archer of Gary’s Maintenance in Niagara for this honour and special mention of community hero. Gary is the owner of Gary’s Maintenance in St. Catharines-Niagara. He also is part of the Rodfathers here in the area.

Gary’s Maintenance performs automotive repair work for the Community Services food delivery trucks as a donation to the organization/community.

Gary is actively involved in the local Cruise Nights for hotrods and vintage automobiles. The monies raised are donated to local charities at the end of each season.

Gary also volunteers his time and sound equipment to other various local fundraising events, which almost always include fancy cars, seeing as he is a Rodfather, himself. He is well known around town for his DJ’ing and MC’ing. These events are most pleasant with Gary’s jovial personality – making fundraising fun…

All to often, the volunteers and services/monies donated to community causes are not acknowledged... Thank you for providing this opportunity. My name is Lisa and I am Gary's bookkeeper.

- Lisa Chaing, Gary’s Maintenance
Niagara Falls, ON

My boss's mother is 72 years old.....

My boss's mother is 72 years old. She has owned and operated several resturants throughout the years and officially sold off her last obligation in May of 2008. Immediately upon her retirement, she came to work with her two boys and her late husband at their newest venture, which is a scrap metal recycling business. They built her a kitchen and everyday she comes here and cooks for the employees as well as taking care of her 96 year old mother. This woman has fed everyone in Bessemer, McCalla and Tuscaloosa and is well loved by all. Her name is Elizabeth L Weeks. Her friends call her Betty so we hardly ever hear Elizabeth.

- Kristy Abraham, Scrap Magnet
McCalla, AL

Ralph Schiffbauer lived a life of service within his community, his nation, and his world.

Ralph Schiffbauer lived a life of service within his community, his nation, and his world. As a young man, Ralph served within the navy and educated other sailors. His careers here within the our community included running the local cafe in order to serve others, and then a construction company, in order to build for the future. Hard physical work did not intimidate Ralph, as he dug out around homes to rebuild foundations. Often Ralph would commission his employees to scoop out the gutters in town on his dollar, because the job needed to be done. Later in Ralph's life, when he saw homes sitting idle in our town, he bought them, made neccessary repairs, and then offered the homes for rent or sale. Many children have come into our school system because of the availability of housing. Also on Ralph's mind were the little things: he would replace the tattered flag at the ball field, empty the trash from Main Street and the city park, offer his time and equipment for civic projects, and befriend children in the community. Ralph Schiffbauer served on our city council for almost 30 years, and toward the end of his life, had stepped into the position of Mayor. In this capacity, Ralph gave countless evenings for discussion of projects, many Saturdays for the completion of the projects, and was an invaluable source of information in regard to the location of utility lines and when they were installed. Ralph's was an exemplary life lived in service to others.

- Yvonne Krehbiel
Bern, KS

I nominate Sandra Musice of Lebanon, MO as a community hero.

I nominate Sandra Musice of Lebanon, MO as a community hero. Sandy is the Director of the Laclede County Literacy Council in Lebanon. Even though she works countless hours each week, she insists on only accepting minimal pay for her position. Sandy's hard work and diligence makes a big difference in our community through her directing, coordinating, and teaching. Thanks in part to Sandy, Lebanon can proudly proclaim to have an educated workforce.

- David Reid
Lebanon, MO

I'd like to submit Shianne Carswell from Kamloops, B.C. as a community hero.

I'd like to submit Shianne Carswell from Kamloops, B.C. as a community hero. Shianne works tirelessy as the campaign/fundraiser for the JDRF Kamloops chapter. Shianne coordinates the Telus Walk in the Park event every year, holds monthly meetings, tirelessly solicits new sponsors for a very worthy cause. The amazing thing about Shianne is her absolute humility, she does all of this work on behalf of JDRF and usually steps into the background when accolades are being handed out. Shianne is everything a community hero should be, dedicated, selfless, humble and caring.

- Clint Hicks
Kamploops, BC