Ongoing Projects
 

Local Projects

 

Whitby's Outdoor Gym

Paving the pathway to a fit community.....buy a brick...make your mark in history.
 
Rotary Whitby Sunrise is raising money for Whitby’s first outdoor workout gym.   Completed in 2013 and used daily at Heydenshore Park by the lake. >Want to make your mark at the gym?  Your $200 engraved brick will be permanently placed on the pathway to the Rotary outdoor fitness gym.  Help us raise money in support of community initiatives like this.

To order your brick now email Dave MacAskill at davemacaskill@rogers.com

 

Adopt-A-Highway

Highway 7 from Brock to Ashburn

As the sponsors of this section of road our name has been placed on signs erected by the Region of Durham, serving as a visible reminder of Rotary's contribution to life in our community. We clean up the garbage along the sides of the road twice a year, in November and April.

 

Partnership in Service

In the spring of 2002 a decision was made by the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise to seek  a  partnership with other service clubs within Durham Region to satisfy the many requests for funds to assist various people with the Region.
 

The  Community Care  Access Centre in  Whitby were approached  to research  a method of  how to  assist  people in Durham  that were in need of financial  help to  obtain Wheel Chairs,  Hospital Beds, Ceiling Track and  stair lifts  to mention a few.

It was suggested that we work through an Agency in Durham who are aware of the various people needs.   These Agencies for example are Community Advantage Rehab, Integrated Rehab Professionals to name two very active Agencies with Occupational Therapists on their staff.

At this time we have the following Partners involved, Lions, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, Rotary, Kinsmen, Whitby & Oshawa Fire Departments, Canadian Progress Club Pickering and Durham Regional Police.

The  Sunrise Whitby Rotary Club is the prime  Service Club in Durham  that  co-ordinates the  other  Service Club & Organizations in providing  assistance to people in need.

The Partnership completes on an average of 42 transactions per year with the Clubs & Organizations donating in excess of $30,000 each year.

The Partnership In Service is a very productive organization serving the people of Durham

Mission Statement
To provide people with special needs within the Region of Durham with financial assistance through the support of various Social Agencies, Service Clubs, Public/Private sector organizations through “Partnership In Service” .

 

Durham Outlook for the Needy 

The Rotary Club donates its time to the kitchen once a month, both preparing and serving the meal. The Kitchen served its first meal on October 15, 1990.

The kitchen was originally named after the Saint, Vincent Pallotti. A small group of people saw a sad thing happening in Oshawa. They saw that many people were hungry and had no way of eating a nutritious meal. They also saw that there were businesses who were throwing out good food. They wanted to provide a place where those who needed a meal could come.

This small group sent a letter to all the churches in Durham Region inviting them to come to a meeting at St. Mary of the People Catholic Church Hall. They expected 25 people to attend but were very surprised and pleased that 250 people attended the meeting. From that group volunteer teams were formed as well a board of directors.

The location was discussed and Downtown Oshawa was decided upon because of its central location. 51 King Street East had a vacancy in the basement but the work involved to set up a restaurant that was fire safe was a tremendous task. Many hours of planning and work went into making that basement the St. Vincent's Kitchen dining area we know today. Durham Outlook for the Needy was then formed and would run St. Vincent Pallotti Kitchen & Store. 

 

Muslim Welfare House

The Muslim Welfare Home is a 33 bed shelter for women and children located in Whitby. The Muslim Welfare Centre has been offering safe, short-term affordable housing to abused women and their children of all communities regardless of Religion, Nationality, Caste or Creed across the Greater Toronto Area since 1993. It also provides a caring and non-judgmental environment for women of all faiths and their children that are respectful of cultural, personal and religious beliefs. It consists of 17 Bedrooms, 9 Washrooms, A Spacious Living Room, large Kitchen and Children Play Room etc.

The Rotary Club donates its time and resources to help with building and yard maintenance, IT support and ongoing donations.

 

 

 

International Projects

 

 

Dominican Republic Seniors Program

Far away from the sunny beaches that attract thousands of tourists to the Dominican Republic each year are the sugar cane fields. The people who live and work within these fields experience a contradiction - the beauty of the mountains against their poverty-stricken communities struggle to survive.

The Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise has been involved with the people of the Dominican Republic since 1998, with the guidance and help of the Canadian Grey Sisters who reside in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. The first seniors residence was opened in 1992 with the help of Rotary.

For a donation of $200/yr, one substantial meal of rice, beans, chicken and a salad is provided to a senior each day. They are also given a bed and receive medical care from a doctor who visits once per week.

Please contact Debbie Morgan at debbiem@rogers.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for more information and donation.

 

Viva La Loma

“La Loma” is an adult training center in the small town of Consuelo, Dominican Republic (approx 1½ hrs East of Santo Domingo). The Grey Sister’s of the Immaculate Conception established La Loma in 1997. The Grey Sisters, an order of Nun’s founded in Canada in 1737, have been working in the Dominican Republic since 1951.

La Loma’s purpose was to train locals for the emerging resort industry. In 2001 the local sugar mill closed, and as a result, the school was besieged with people wishing to be retrained and thus find work. The school was unable to accommodate the increased demand. In 2001 a Canadian Rotarian, Bob McAllister & friend Bob Kirk rode bicycles from Whitby, Ontario to Chicago, Illinois in order to raise money for an addition to La Loma. By raising $35,000, a new building was constructed and opened in 2004.  In 2006 there were 314 graduates in areas such as waiter/waitress, bartending, small engine repair and plumbing to list a few. All found placement in their area of study. This is significant since the unemployment rate of the region prior to La Loma was 90%.  Graduates from La Loma have continued since opening this facility and each year Rotarians visit the facility and are excited to see it's continued impact on the people of Consuelo.

Ongoing stewardship of La Loma is carried out by Infotep (approx. English translation: Institute National Formation of Technical Professionals). Infotep is a Dominican agency controlled by private sector and government funding. They provide salaries for teachers, along with curriculums for various courses. An Infotep diploma is internationally recognized, thus students graduating from La Loma can find work throughout the Caribbean and around the world. La Loma has just been recognized for Educational Excellence by Spanish American countries, and will receive this prestigious award in Panama later this year.

Due to its success, La Loma is expanding once again. The new building was constructed with the provision of adding a second floor at a later date. That later date is now.  In 2008, 8 people rode bicycles from Vancouver BC to Calgary AB to raise funds for an expansion of the school (http://www.vivalaloma.com/). Construction was completed with occupancy in the fall of 2009.

 

Team Laos

Laos has become a new area in which we have invested both time and funds, in large part because of the personal commitment of fellow Rotarian's. Schools, water systems, educational supports and food programs are being impacted by our contributions.

Visit the Adopt a Village in Laos for all the details of why this project helps so many.