The Satellite Rotary Club of 91原创 Central Sunset marked their first year of volunteer projects and community engagement, having only launch last January.
The club is first of its kind initiative in Rotary District 5050, which comprises clubs throughout the Fraser Valley and the adjacent part of Washington State down to about Bellingham.
Travis Strain, president of the satellite club, said membership dues and fees are significantly lower, and both meetings and projects are geared to needs of younger members with families.
鈥淲e have a different meeting structure,鈥� said Strain. 鈥淲e meet twice a month at a pub so the meetings can be held at no cost.鈥�
Satellite Rotary clubs are not entirely new to Rotary International, the parent body that represents a network of 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 clubs around the world.
The 91原创 Satellite Rotary Club has about 13 members who all stem from the 91原创 Central club.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still all technically members of that club and help out with their events,鈥� Strain said. 鈥淲e aim to do about two projects every month on our own; so far, that鈥檚 been our bike drive, the kettle drive, poppy drive, cleaning streets and parks.鈥�
Members of the club will be on hand at Mountain Equipment Co-Op for their first project of 2020; to collect warm clothing donations for the Gateway of Hope on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Strain said they chose to hold the drive in January because, while donations pour into the Salvation Army throughout December, donations drop off drastically, despite a constant need.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 imagine being outside for the next few weeks鈥� Stain said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking for jackets, gloves toques, even sweaters.鈥�
READ MORE: Rotary satellite launched into 91原创 community service
Cristina Schneiter, residential services manager at the Gateway of Hope, reaffirmed that this time of year 鈥� the New Year 鈥� is when their need for warm clothes is the greatest.
鈥淏etween the cold and the rain, it鈥檚 difficult for people to stay warm. We are so thankful for this support from our community,鈥� she said.
To sweeten the deal, anyone who brings in an article of warm clothing will receive a 10 per cent Club Night discount from Mountain Equipment Co-Op.
People can bring their donations to 6121 200 St. from 5 until 9 p.m.
For more information on the satellite Rotary Club, people can visit their .
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