A few days before Christmas, the Rotary Club of Honiara together with the Roteracts (young Rotarians) came together at the BJS warehouse in Honiara to assemble Christmas bags for 30 preemie babies, 40 babies, 60children and 400 adults.
A statement from the club said early on Christmas morning – 25th December, the 540 bags were loaded onto trucks and taken to National Referral Hospital (NRH).
Rotary Santa Claus and his Rotarian helpers handed out the gifts to all patients, nurses, doctors, cleaners, kitchen and laundry staff!
The young Roteracts with the help of Joyce Boykin, sang Christmas carols in all the wards, the kitchen and laundry.
The activity bought smiles and happiness to everyone who received a large bag of goodies.
Usually all items in the assembled bags were donated from the local business community, but this year, Rotary decided to purchase the items and support the businesses.
However, when approached, most of the business operators wanted to donate their usual goods – showing a wonderful spirit of giving under such trying circumstances!
Businesses who supported the Rotary gift giving included:
Sol tuna, Sol rice (rice and bags) Global vision (biscuits) Kokonut pacific (soaps and baby oils), Fielders CDL (Noddle’s) Super Star store (candies, Woodford International school council (money) Bulk Shop donated toothbrushes, soap, surf washing powder baby powder and afro combs), BJS Agencies and Blums Pty Ltd, Island Enterprises for logistical support and transport
Items inside the bags included books (donated from Australian Rotarians) clothing, toys, water, coffee sachets, navy and sweet biscuits together with nappies, talc, pins etc.for the baby bags.
Any leftover bags and donated items were delivered to Christian Care Centre, Good Samaritan Hospital, Honiara medical clinics and Seif Ples
The statement said 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,” the statement said.
Rotarians meet 5.30 – 7.30pm every Tuesday for a dinner meeting at the Honiara Hotel. New members are most welcome. Call Louise 24274 ([email protected])
