Crock my heart: a project prepared with lots of love

L ast year, Carole Lambert, president of the Rotary Club of Hearst, and Lina Caron, member of the club located in northern Ontario, innovated with a rather original activity.

To bring joy to families in need during the holiday season, the club invested $2,300 of its own money and received $1,500 from the district to launch the "Crock my heart" project. 18 members of the club prepared holiday’s meals for 25 families who also received a $50 gift card for groceries, a book of slow cooker recipes, utensils and the crock pot used to prepare the meal, hence the name of the project, "Crock my heart." In addition, Josée Savard Gosselin handed children carefully and wrapped Christmas gifts. This simple act of kindness brought joy and emotion in these households as well as among the club members.

But let me tell you a little more about this club. This young club chartered 23 years ago is the only French-speaking club in Ontario and one of the 44 clubs, including 4 French, in district 7010. Clubs members don’t have time to get bored. They are working on a few international projects but a large portion of their time and resources is used to support community projects: a telethon in March or April to help sick children, a gala in July on Canada Day and "Operation Red Nose" that provide safe rides home after parties during the holiday season. All these activities are carried out in the spirit of fellowship and sharing, two important values for the club members.

Another project is in the planning for December. Having noticed that some families in need didn’t know how to cook the turkey they receive for Christmas and end up leaving it in their freezer, the idea of "Rotarysserie" was born. The club will provide families with a roasting pan, instructions and of course a turkey ready to roast. The creative idea is to donate a meal to these families but also to teach them how to cook it themselves.

All are remarkable and unique projects that you are all welcome to duplicate in your own communities. A lot of people will thank you for it.