Santa on his sleigh is heading for Irlam next month – courtesy of Irlam Rotary Club.
The club’s annual Santa float tours the area, including Station Road, across December to spread Christmas cheer and raise money for food parcels.
This year, the club is asking Irlam folk to give donations instead of sending Christmas cards in order to deliver around 100 parcels to those who need them most.
The parcels include non-perishable festive food, tinned and packet foods and a Christmas card with a special message inside.
The aim is to make each parcel feel warm, thoughtful and seasonal.
Club president Jane Williams said: “The parcels we make often go to the elderly but they also go to families in need.”
David Taylor, Secretary, said: “Our motto is service not self.
“Individually you can’t make much of a difference but if you get together as a group you have a bigger impact.”
And Rotary Foundation chair Tony Beckett said: “The Santa float is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year.”
These festive activities not only bring the community together but also create the magic of Christmas and what it means.
Tony said: “You can ask anyone for a favour and they’ll probably say yes because it’s for a good cause.”
For many members of the Rotary Club, which was formed in 1969, is a way of getting themselves out into a social setting and to give them a purpose within their own day-to-day lives.
Ken Blay, who has been a member for a year, said: “I’m 77, do I sit here all day or do I go out and try and make a difference?”
Whilst the Christmas card donations are a new idea, the Santa float has been going on for years.
During Covid, they made videos to post instead but now they’re trying to get it back up and running as a key Irlam Christmas tradition.
Irlam Rotary Club works all year round to help in little ways that make a tremendous far far-reaching difference.
It is keen to recruit more members to be able to support the community even more.
To donate to the Santa sleigh appeal or find out more about Irlam Rotary Club, and to help make a difference within your local community, contact them here
Recent Comments