This year, The Rotary Club of Ipswich City has been helping out hungry school kids by making and delivering thousands of fresh sandwiches.
The club’s new School Lunch Volunteer Program involves Rotarians and scores of other volunteers preparing sandwiches every three weeks for nearly 20 state schools across Ipswich.
“We are amazed by the the incredible support we’ve received over the last three sandwich making events,” president David Cullen said.
So far, the Rotary Club has supplied approximately 10,000 cheese sandwiches in total.
“Volunteers are needed for each event to ensure we make the quota of sandwiches.
It’s an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and continue making a difference in our community.
“Subsequent events will take place every three weeks, allowing for a consistent and impactful effort.”
The initiative is a collaboration with Ipswich Show Society and Eat Up Australia, a national organisation that partners with schools and local groups and is dedicated to helping feed the one in five Australian children who currently experience hunger at lunchtime.
“Ipswich Show Society has given us full use of the showgrounds as well as their fridge and freezer. River 94.9 has offered us their van to help us deliver the sandwiches.”
Their most recent event last Thursday also included providing yoghurts, biscuits, and tea and coffee to accompany the sandwiches.
Aidan Wales, a sales and marketing executive at Ray White Ipswich, was one of many volunteers there to offer their services.
“We made many thousands of sandwiches there this morning — lots of help and great community effort,” Aidan said.
“Thanks to all those people that kept the bread, cheese, and margarine [coming] to all those sandwich-makers who get pretty efficient at getting them out… the whole table of volunteers wrapping the sandwiches, then finally all those volunteers that then take off with their vans, utes, and cars — full of sandwiches and some other goodies — to deliver to 20-odd schools in the district.
“We have it now as a well-oiled machine thanks to the great organisers.”
For more information, visit ipswichcityrotary.com.au or facebook.com/rotaryipswichcity.
