Often women arrive at the Lancaster Women’s Refuge with very little. So Lancaster Soroptimist were asked if that would provide a food pack. The pack contains basic items like tea, coffee, long-life milk, biscuits and a few easily prepared meals like soup and noodles. There is enough food for a few days. It is hoped this well allow the recipient time to settle.
As well as VE day celebrations and charity jam and chutney sales and of course a daily walk Soroptimist had other activities to keep them occupied. One member keep busy with her garden while an other delivery food boxes and chopped wood for a toast fire over winner. Of course lock down or not there is always and uninvited guest.
No service/gathering was possible for Remembrance Sunday 2020 as the country was in lockdown. Organisations were asked to lay their wreaths at some point during the afternoon , following a private service by the Mayor sometime that day. Only one person was allowed at once in the memorial garden, with strict entrance from Dalton square and leaving via George street. Hilary wrote “For your sacrifice for our freedom, Thank you Soroptimist International Lancaster” on the card attached to the wreath.
We have been providing storey books for local schools and have in January we completed Tiddler is our 43rd book. It will be delivered to a local school once the coded restrictions are eased. In the mean time members have stated collecting the figures for the next story – Rosie’s Walk.
International Women’s Day February 2020 International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. In Lancaster is was acknowledged with a splash of colour and some taste sensations from around the globe.
A story sack full of jungle animals was part of the presentation to Loyne school in November 2019.
Some members were more organised than other when it came to VE celebrations. Some had the street parties organised at a social distance while others approached the event with the wartime spirit to “make do and mend” as the saying went. Decoration consisted of an old washing line and appropriately coloured items to pegged on.
Lancaster Soroptimist sends a big thank you to a fellow member, Janette for the donation of £135 to the women’s refuge. Janette raised this money from the sale of her filtered face masks. In total Janette raised £265. The money was split with another charity. The total amount raised for the refuge was £605. The Refuge staff were delighted with the donation.
