We are part of an international women’s voluntary organisation working to improve the lives of women and girls at a local, national and international level. That is our motto.
And how did we do in 2021. Another year of the pandemic, which has meant we have had to adapt. And whilst not being able to fund raise as we would have liked, and we are only a small group, our members have stepped up to the plate and we have delivered to our community and to our local charities. Below is a gallery of what we have been able to do, adhering to the Covid rules but still being there to support and help those who have needed it.
Started cake making in 2020 and continued in 2021 for the families at MK Act and made of 2,000 cakes for the families
Made a Quilt to celebrate Soroptimist International Centenary, our club and Milton Keynes
With help from our friends made 158 hearts for staff at MK Cancer Centre and ICU at MK University Hospital to say a big Thank you
Started providing Clean Start buckets for families leaving MK Act Women’s Refuge. This has now expanded to help those being rehoused and moving on from the Winter Night Shelter
Joined the local campaign #Postcards of Hope writing messages of hope and kindness to local people
Hosted Regional Conference in June as part of Centenary Celebrations
MK Community helped us set up in 2015 with a grant. To celebrate our 6th birthday we paid back to MK Community £200 to their “Women’s Fund”
When the Afghan Crisis erupted and refugees were brough here to MK we collected over 5 car loads of clothes, toys, toiletries etc within 10 days of the first call
Our linked charities have been under immense pressure during this pandemic. We held an event to celebrate the hard work of their staff and volunteers with our Violet Awards
Raised £200 for Princes Trust Brilliant Breakfast Oct 2021 Women Supporting Women fund
Held our first Musical event which helped us donate £700 to Winer Night Shelter
Held our first exhibition on Soroptimists at CMK Library as part of our Centenary celebrations
Our members took part in the 2021 MK Foodbank Reverse Christmas Advent Calendar event and filled two boxes full of food items
Planted a tree in memory of those learners lost to the pandemic at MK Snap and also to celebrate our Centenary and one of Soroptimists goals to help plant more trees to help clean the Environment
As part of Christmas projects for 2021 we donated 2 very full boxes of Chocolates to the Winter night Shelter
For 2020 we handmade Christmas sacks and filled with toys for the families at MK Act Women’s Refuge. These were so popular we were asked to do again this year. We made 28 sacks and filled them with chocolates for the families at MK Act
And in early December members rallied round and found bedding, clothes, toys, food and a hoover for a Homeless mother and autistic daughter made homeless and arriving in the Winter Night Shelter
We may be a small group but with the help of our friends we have done well for 2021. And in 2022 we shall continue to help our local charities and community. Every little thing you do to help others matters, its not about how much, size. It matters that you help in the first place with what ever you can do.
If you like what we have done why not join us. To contact us soroptimistsmk@gmail.com