Rotary Club of Ottawa South members Rosemary Parker and Mahamud (Moe) Elmi took charge of our annual backpack program. Each year we source new backpacks and fill them with some school supplies for local students who are in need of some of the fundamentals to a good education. The backpacks are given to deserving families by the Salvation Army Citadel location, as well as the Banff Community House. Traditionally we provide around 80 backpacks, but this year Moe and Rosemary raised the bar much higher. Moe is a Sergeant with the Ottawa Police Force and works with some of the local schools, which has helped him develop relevant contacts. He was able to get 200 backpacks, each with some school supplies, free from Clarissa Arthur, Executive Director of Education Foundation of Ottawa. Our budgeted funds were used to add more supplies to each backpack, making this a banner year backpack program, and 200 young students. Extending our funds even further, Rosemary met with the manager of Staples at South Keys and she received great discounts on new school supplies. Two hundred backpacks were filled last Friday at The Salvation Army. Joan Hunter, Gary Pluim, Peter Pauker and his better half Evette, Jeanine Parker, Rosemary Parker and Captain Jeff Arkell from the Salvation Army were very efficient in filling the bags.In addition to the school supplies, each backpack had a hand-written positive/motivational statement (complete with stickers!). Rosemary started distributing the bags on Tuesday and there were a lot of happy parents and kids. Moe and Rosemary delivered 30 bags to Banff Community Centre. Rosemary holds up a positive statement card and backpack. Gary prepares backpacks as other RCOS members work in the background. Several RCOS members line up after a deed well done. |
