Although they have had to postpone their weekly face-to-face meetings due to the Covid-19 crisis, Christchurch Rotary Club has continued to support people in need of food and financial assistance during the lockdown.

The Rotary club has donated over £8,500 to Christchurch FoodBank+ by donating £10 each for every dinner meeting they were unable to take in March and April.

The club has continued to serve the community by holding committee meetings by videoconference and consulting all their members by email over significant decisions.

Club President Mike Court said: “Although we can’t get together for our usual dinners and committee meetings, the need for our Club to serve the local community is greater than ever.

“We became aware at an early stage that Christchurch FoodBank+ is suffering from extra demand, and also reduced contributions, as a result of lockdown.

“I’m delighted to say that this opportunity met with an immediate response, so we were able to donate £1,212 to FoodBank.

Club Member Kelvin Medley-Jones offered to match-fund the first £1,000 of this donation with an equal amount from The Primrose Fund, a charitable fund set up to commemorate his mother.

Recognising the continuing need for major support to the foodbank, the club have also agreed to donate £1,339, the proceeds of our recent Quiz evening to the FoodBank.

This, together with a donation from our charity account of a further £5,000, brings the total donated so far to £8,551.

Christchurch Rotary have also matched a £2,000 donation from The Hospital of St Mary Magdalen Trust to the Christchurch Community Partnership.

The Rotary Club has also responded to a request from Christchurch Community Partnership for support to a scheme providing financial assistance to those in special need as a consequence of the coronavirus crisis.

CCP Chair Rev. Sandra Prudom said: “We are working with local schools and other organisations who are in touch with those who will struggle most through the current crisis and trying to help where we can.

“The Trust have given us an initial fund of £2,000, and we are most grateful to Christchurch Rotary for match-funding with a similar amount.

“We work closely with Christchurch Rotary on a variety of our projects throughout the year and they have been extremely supportive again through this current crisis."