Major Projects
The Rotary Club of Renfrew has undertaken a large number of local projects which benefit people of our area directly. They include:
THE EL SALVADOR PROJECT
This is a new District Project aimed at assisting the poor in El Salvador by providing goods and expertise. Several Clubs are involved. We also have several members who have ‘adopted’ children and are helping to support them.
HOSPICE RENFREW
We are currently raising funds and have pledged $80,000 in support of Hospice Renfrew. To date we have donated $8,000.
ROTARY HOMES
The Rotary Club built low cost rental housing for seniors in 1955 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the founding of Rotary. It still administers them today.
MEALS ON WHEELS
One of the only 7 day-a-week Meals on Wheels programs has been a part of Rotary for many, many years.
RENFREW VICTORIA HOSPITAL
Our $70,000 pledge IS COMPLETE!!! AS OF AUGUST, 1999. In all, we have donated over $150,000 to the hospital over the years.
CAMP MERRYWOOD
This Easter Seals Camp for the physically challenged has undergone a massive rebuilding of its facilities helped by the Rotary Club of Renfrew’s $75,000 pledge. THIS PLEDGE IS NOW ALSO COMPLETED. We also support the cost of sending children from our area to camps each summer.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Since 1982, more than 20 Renfrew and area students have had the opportunity to live for a year in a foreign country and a similar number of students from other countries have enriched the lives of our community by spending time here. Our students have traveled to and lived in countries as diverse as Sweden, Japan, France, Australia, Germany and Holland. In-coming students have been from Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Japan among others.
EASTER SEALS
The Rotary Club of Renfrew had a very long association with the Easter Seals Society and was an ‘Easter Seals’ Club’ going back 60 years or more. Although we no longer have a formal association with Easter Seals, Rotary continues to support challenged youth both locally and internationally.
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Each spring, Rotary sponsors the local Music Festival. This is a very large event requiring many months of work to prepare.
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY – Renfrew Rotary has adopted the part of Highway 17 between O’Brien Road and County Road 6. At least two times a year, we remove the litter from the sides of the highway.
ROTARY FOUNDATION
We support Rotary’s world-wide programs by donating to the Rotary Foundation on a regular basis. This year, we hope to donate a minimum of $100.00 per member.
In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Rotary International, Renfrew Rotary build a Splash Pad to benefit the citizens of Renfrew by providing a unique aquatic experience. Located at Ma-te-way Park, it opened on July 1, 2005 and has been in high demand throughout the summer. This project, in conjunction with the Town of Renfrew, cost about $100,000 to construct