Rotary & Urban Renewal working ‘hand-in-hand’ in Fox Hill Community

Mr. Mike Russell, Chairman of the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas' Road to Peace Committee (fourth right) making the presentation to Mrs. Sonia Kemp, Centre Manager, Fox Hill Urban Renewal Centre. Also pictured (from left) are: Mrs. Sheila Knowles, Mrs. Celeste Lockhart an Mrs. Rosetta Etienne, all Senior Citizen Volunteers at the Fox Hill Urban Renewal Centre; Mrs. Kemp, Mr. Russell, Mr. Brett Smith, Programmes Coordinator, Fox Hill Urban Renewal Centre, Mrs. Marsha Sherman-­‐Bain, Rotary, and Mr. Jamal Davis, Rotary. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)

NASSAU, The Bahamas - Officials of the Rotary Club of Nassau and the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas' Road to Peace Committee continued their partnership with the Fox Hill Urban Renewal Centre - one that is aimed at assisting Centre officials in further addressing the needs of senior citizens in the Fox Hill Community - with the presentation of a cheque, the proceeds of which will assist in purchasing additional grocery items to be distributed to those seniors who are part of the Centre's Senior Citizens Outreach Programme.

The Fox Hill Centre provides grocery bags to senior citizens throughout the community on a twice-­‐monthly basis. Hot meals - including breakfast and lunch - are also prepared at the Centre for collection utilizing curb side methods for both seniors and others in the community in need of a hot meal, or for distribution in those cases where seniors cannot access the Centres on their own. The Centre also caters to persons with disabilities, children, single mothers and entire families.

The cheque presentation was the latest in what Centre Manager, Mrs. Sonia Kemp, said is 'an awesome and growing partnership' between the Rotary Club of Nassau, the Road to Peace Committee and the Centre.

Written to Bahamas Wholesale Agencies, the cheque will allow Centre officials to purchase additional grocery items for those seniors to whom the Centre provides regular and consistent service either through the provision

of hot meals (breakfast and lunch), assistance with hygiene kits and items, care packages and grocery bags.

'This is such a great partnership because the Rotary Club of Nassau and the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas' Road to Peace Committee have consistently been there for us, providing us with bags of groceries that we have distributed to our seniors to complement and supplement what we do from the Urban Renewal Commission and the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development levels,' Mrs. Kemp said.

'Today, they have partnered with us once again, providing us with a cheque to Bahamas Wholesale Agencies where we can go and purchase needed items for seniors in our communities. It is just awesome what they have done and I am thankful to the Rotary Club of Nassau, and the Road to Peace Committee, but especially Mr. Jamal Davis and Mr. Mike Russell who are the two persons I am in constant contact with. They have done a great, great job in representing the ideals and principles of the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas,' Mrs. Kemp added.

A member of the Rotary Club of Nassau and the Road to Peace Committee, Mr. Davis also had high praise for the partnership, Centre Manager Kemp, and the Centre's work in extending its reach even further into the Fox Hill Community.

'We are so happy and grateful to be here today, amongst our seniors, with the goal of assisting those seniors in need,' Mr. Davis said. 'The partnership between the Rotary Club of Nassau, the Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas' Road to Peace Committee, the Fox Hill Urban Renewal Centre, and Mrs. Kemp as the Centre's Manager, has been a great one. Mrs. Kemp has been very instrumental in the Road to Peace Campaign by always coming to our aid whenever we have needed her assistance. The Centre does great work in the community and as a result, we want to extend our support to her, the Centre, and the wider community of Fox Hill.'

The partnership between the three entities, extend even further than the provision of social assistance to the community. In February (2021), the Rotary Club of Nassau and the Road to Peace Committee, dedicated a

'Peace Site' at the Fox Hill Park with the assistance of the Fox Hill Urban Renewal Centre. The Centre sits right across the street from the Park.

Road to Peace Chairman, Russell, said the dedication was held and part of the observance of February as World Peace and Conflict Resolution Month.

'Road to Peace started in 2015 when a number of the senior Rotary Members got together and decided that it was time that Rotary tried to do something in the fight against crime,' Mr. Russell said.' Our goal is to stage a number of events during the year ourselves, along with whatever else the Rotary Clubs are doing. Last month (February) we held what we called the Peace Site dedication in observance of World Peace and Conflict Resolution Month, following all of the health and safety protocols established by the Ministry of Health. We selected Fox Hill again because of the relationship with the Fox Hill Urban Renewal Centre and Mrs. Kemp, and the shooting they had back in 2013.

'We want to bring peace to our communities, in our schools, and with our young people because it is definitely needed,' Mr. Russell added.

Rotarian Marsha Bain said the organization has provided her with the opportunity to: 'truly put self above service' which is the organization's motto.

'Service above self is a way of life for Rotarians. The gratification for us comes from being able to serve our various communities. You don't look for reward. That's what drew me to Rotary because one of the things that was most important to me was to be able to give service to the community, to give back to society and Rotary opened that door for me. The Rotary Clubs comprise a cross-­‐section of Bahamians coming together to make a difference in the community,' Mrs. Bain said.

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