The Rotary club is building a strong relationship with Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society. The KFS touches the local community in many positive ways through their housing projects, child & youth development & educational programs, addiction & advocacy programs, family & poverty law, employment services, mental health services and many other needs. They also distribute meals twice a week to individuals lacking housing and program participants.
The Rotary Club of Kelowna Sunrise undertook a fundraiser in the summer to support the work of KFS and assisted with food deliveries, monetary donations from members and friends of Rotary and face masks for the community with more on the way this winter.
The Club is also partnering with School District #23 and supporting two of their Indigenous Graduation Bursaries annually. They are the “All- Around Medicine Wheel Award for $750 and the “Spiritual Award” for $500. It’s a great opportunity to develop relationships with local Indigenous leaders who are on the selection committee and see the recipients succeed and pursue their educational goals.
Newly appointed HIP District Co-Ordinator will host a book study on Zoom for club members in December. The book chosen is “Braiding Sweetgrass” authored by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Robin, a gifted writer, describes herself as a mother, scientist, professor teaching Environmental Biology and director of the Center for Native People’s and the Environment”.