Without Santa we’re starved of donations

FOR the past 20 years, the Rotary Club of the Soar Valley has provided a Santa Sleigh to the villages of the Soar Valley.

Many of you save up your change all year and bring it out to our Santa. It was not unusual to have a family with children chasing us round the streets because they had missed Santa!

We have been supported throughout by the Kia Loughborough garage, which has donated a car to tow the sleigh (saving the reindeers for the big night!)

It has raised about £4,800 every year, to be donated to, among others, Loros, Rainbows, the Laura Centre for bereaved children, Prostaid, foodbanks, primary schools and individual children and families needing extra support- usually for a disabled person.

We have also worked with secondary schools, enabling older students to go on an exchange trip or activity abroad.

Covid-19 has changed all that. This year we are unable to bring our Santa Sleigh to you and collect your donations.

The unfortunate consequence is we will have very little in the way of donations to support local charities

Please may I, on behalf of the Rotary Club of the Soar Valley ask you to donate?

This can be done by going to JustGiving.com and typing in “Rotary Club of the Soar Valley”; or you can email me at the address below and I will arrange for a member to visit you, socially distanced, and collect your donation.

Many thanks. Have a happy Christmas, whilst remembering to stay safe. soarvalleyrotaryclub@gmail.com Hilary Holmes, treasurer, Rotary Club of the Soar Valley