In late October, the Rotary Club of Meaford brought people together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the historic gothic revival church building on Trowbridge St.
Built in 1925 by the Bayview Gospel Workers, the building became the Bethany Church of the Nazarene in the 1940s. The Rotary Club of Meaford purchased the building in 2023. The club wishes to thank Rev. Leigh Straiton and Rev. Joyce Straiton for making this possible. As a token of the club’s appreciation, Leigh and Joyce were presented with a 3D printed model of the building.
Letters of congratulation from Alex Ruff, MP, and Paul Vickers, MPP, were read to the gathering, and Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney brought greetings from the Municipality of Meaford. To close the formalities, the club unveiled a brass plaque which will be affixed to the building’s exterior. Rotarians, Thrift Shop staff, and volunteers and guests raised their glasses to toast the building’s century of service to the community.
In 2010, the Meaford Food Bank and Outreach, a registered charity, found a home in the church basement. This important service has continued in Rotary House, the historic building’s new name. “Our Food Bank provides about a four-day supply of food to individuals and families who live in the Municipality of Meaford catchment area. Food is provided at no cost and without conditions. Personal information is kept private and confidential. Through creative partnerships and the generous support of our donors, the Food Bank offers fresh produce, milk, eggs, and whole grains.” (https://www.meafordfoodbankandoutreach.org/).
The Rotary Thrift Shop opened in December 2023. The shop’s first manager, Kim Ware, deserves great credit for finding volunteers and setting up the systems that keep the shop humming along. Kim is stepping down this month and Lisa Rielly is taking over. The community’s generous donations keep the shop supplied with fresh inventory. Thrifting has become trendy, and shoppers from this area and beyond come looking for unique finds. The volunteer staff are very particular, and only the best quality makes the rack. This dedicated group, now 23 strong, is the heartbeat of the Thrift Shop. Rotary House has become a social hub where people feel comfortable just dropping in for a friendly chat. Surplus funds from the Rotary Thrift Shop go toward the community betterment projects of Meaford Rotary, as well as building upgrades. Have you visited the thrift shop? Come by to hunt for bargains or just to say hello!
The Outreach Room is a meeting space inside Rotary House. In 2023, the Meaford Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Meaford heard a presentation from My Friends’ House, a non-profit organization which provides women who have experienced intimate partner violence (and their children) with counselling, housing, and financial guidance.
My Friends’ House fielded more than 4,562 calls for help from women in 2023, more than 3,000 of whom were in immediate crisis. More than 20% of those calls came from Meaford women.
“There was hardly a dry eye at the club meeting,” said Peggy McIntosh, the Rotarian who headed up this initiative. “We had to do something. So we went to work. We dedicated the little room with private access to services that reach out to those in our community who need support. We were fortunate to receive funding from Tim Fischer of Mentor Technologies and partner Kim Gellatly (Thank you! Without you the space would not have happened.) We received furnishings from Leon’s Owen Sound, as well as some private donors, and Rotarians stepped up, as they always do, with muscle, paint, and good nature. All providers offer their services to those in need at no charge. In exchange for their services to our community, Rotary House offers the space to qualified providers also at no charge. If the space was not made available here, those services would not be offered in Meaford. The first provider was My Friends’ House, who continue to use the room. The space has evolved to house six services.
Buildings are stone and mortar, but like people, it is what’s inside that counts. A spirit of hope lives in our services, in the Thrift Shop, the Food Bank, and the Outreach Room. Together we are Meaford Rotary House.”
If you would like to help support Meaford Rotary House, please visit https://meafordrotaryhouse.ca/donate-to-meaford-rotary-house/
