A LARGE group of Rotarians and young Rotarians (Roteracts) delivered 680 gift packs to the National Referral Hospital on Christmas morning.
Rotary Publicity Officer Keithie Saunders said the group was led by Rotary Santa Claus (Sir Bruce Saunders) and his Rotarian helpers to hand out the gifts to all patients, nurses, doctors, cleaners, kitchen and laundry staff.
Mrs Saunders said the young Roteracts with the help of Rotarian Joyce Boykin sang Christmas carols in all the wards, the kitchen and laundry.
She said many of the items in the assembled bags were donated from the local business community and Rotary also purchased many of the items themselves to give support to the local businesses.
“The activity brought smiles and happiness to everyone who received a large bag of goodies,” Mrs Saunders said.
The Rotarians and Roteracts spent few days before Christmas to assemble the Christmas bags for 80 preemie babies, 80 babies, 80 children and 450 adults.
These gifts were then loaded onto trucks on Christmas morning and taken to the National Referral Hospital.
Mrs Saunders said leftover gifts and donated items were delivered to Christian Care Centre, Good Samaritan Hospital and Honiara medical clinics.
“Rotary has been doing the Christmas morning gift giving for many decades now…it is a special activity and Rotarians young and old give up their Christmas morning to bring smiles to the sick, show appreciation to the hard-working NRH staff and lastly to keep the Rotary Motto alive ‘Service Before Self”,” she said.
Businesses who supported the Rotary gift giving were Solrice, Soltuna, Global Vision, Bulk Shop, BSP Bank, Sullivans, Kokonut Pacific, Turu Value, Central Development, APLUS Company, Netfly Store, Victory Trading, Zhong Xin, Low Price Enterprise, Superpower Corporation, BJS Agencies, AJ & G Blum.
Rotarians meet 5.30pm to 7.30pm every Tuesday for a dinner meeting at the Heritage Park conference room. New members are most welcome. Call Louise 24274 or email [email protected]
