Byron Primary School held a Christmas Fair at the school on 30 November. There were lots of different stalls and activities for the children to spend their money.
During the 16 Days of Action, a Soroptimist Christmas Tree was decorated at St Margaret’s Church, Rainham.
Six members plus a Soroptimister returned to the former landfill site at Tovil on Saturday 25 November.
Soroptimist International Medway and Maidstone meet each year to fill shoe boxes, beautifully wrapped in Christmas paper to give to people in Eastern Europe who face enormous difficulties through poverty, illness, disability etc but whose faces light up with joy when offered a Christmas present. The Soroptimist club assembled 92 Boxes of Love this year which will go out to Ukraine to those affected by the war. The boxes are filled with practical items like toiletries, stationery, warm hats, scarves, gloves and socks and topped up with a toy and sweets. Even the practical items, which we take for granted, are greeted with absolute delight. However, we are told by Blythswood Care, the charity which distributes the boxes, that the pleasure they get from the gift is not only from its contents but from the display of care and love that has gone into it.
4 members of SI Medway and Maidstone were in the Soroptimist Knitting Team taking part in a Sponsored knit on 16 October in aid of Blythswood Shoebox Appeal. The knitters were Sue Hunt, Carol McKeough, Stella Barnes and Jane Barnes. Family and friends sponsored each of the knitters and a total of £200 was raised. It is anticipated that more than £1000 will be raised will all knitters taking part. This money will be used to fund transport costs of sending the filled shoeboxes to Ukraine
The 2022 Shoebox Appeal was coming to an end and the clearing up at the Collection Point was taking place. Julia Search agreed to take away and store surplus filler items. This included toothbrushes, hats, scarves, and gloves to be used in the 2023 Appeal.
On 30 September, members of SI Medway and Maidstone did a 6k Memory Walk in aid of Alzheimer’s Society UK. The 5 members who took part were Janet Hughes, Jenny Jones, Carol McKeough, Wanda Wright and Jane Barnes along with two of their dogs, Mabel and Kayde. We set off from the Air Ambulance Memorial at Blue Bell Hill led by Jenny and walked along the North Downs. We were extremely lucky with the weather and were able to enjoy the stunning panoramic views. On our return we took advantage of the good weather and enjoyed a picnic together. It is estimated that there are more than 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia. One in 14 people over the age of 65 have dementia, and the condition affects one in six people over 80. During the month of September, the aim is to
A request was made by Byron Primary School to Medway and Maidstone Soroptimists who they work in partnership with.
As the celebrations were underway in Faversham for the annual hop festival, three members of Medway and Maidstone club, Annette Davies, Jenny Jones and Wanda Wright could be found manning a Bagathon stall.
Six members of SI Medway and Maidstone spent an enjoyable day in August at The Sculpture Park in Farnham Surrey. The trip was organised by Wanda Wright.
