Community Service

Rotary works hard to make a difference. Here are just a few of the important differences our members have created among their local residences and neighborhoods.

Major gifts: Ed's House Hospice

Funding: $150,000 over 5 years (2018-2023)

In 2018, The Ed’s House, the club pledged above and beyond it's yearly budget for community grants towards the new Northumberland Hospice Care Centre located just north of Cobourg. Our club pledged $150,000 over five years to help build the new hospice.

Over the next five years, the club has committed to directing funds from its Scotch Tasting night, its Men Who Cook and Women Who Sizzle event and its May golf tournament to support Ed’s House.

The club, which has already spearheaded the drystone wall project in the garden at the entrance to the Northumberland Hills Hospital and supported more than 50 other community and international projects, believes the new hospice care centre is “critically important to the community,” a recent release reads.

Ed’s House will offer all the hospice services currently provided by Community Care Northumberland, the lead agency on the project, along with other community programs and outreach services and end-of-life care 24-7 at no cost to those receiving services.

The goal is to raise $9.3 million to build the new facility.

Major gifts: Northumberland Hills Hospital

Funding: $48,000 for 5 stretchers (2024-2025)

In April 2024, Dr. Andrew Stratford and Sunrise Rotarian, Hank Vandermeer, (Campaign Chair with the Hospital foundation) made a presentation to the club asking for financial support to purchase Operating Room stretchers – outlining the important role these stretchers play in supporting the safe transfer of surgical patients during their care. The NHH Foundation was hoping to purchase five (5) stretchers at a price of almost $9,000 each.

Impressed with the presentation, Charter member David Houston chose to honour his mother and brother’s memory after their recent passing by donating the first $5,000 and challenged his fellow Club members to also donate towards the foundation as well.

“Sunrise Rotarians have a history of rising to the occasion when asked and this time was no exception. Within only a matter of months, over $48,000 was raised – meaning all five of the OR stretchers were 100% funded by the Club,” President, Denise O’Brien proudly shares. “David’s generosity inspired our Club to follow his lead and do our part to help purchase the much needed Operating Room stretchers. Without hesitation, the Club rose to the challenge.”

The entire Hospital family is grateful to David and all Sunrise Rotarians for answering the call when asked.

NHH Gardens

In 2014, Northumberland Sunrise committed to beautifying the front entrance of the hospital. Members supported the build of a drystone wall and entrance garden with a birch tree in the centre with funds and sweat equity.

In 2019, there was a continued commitment from the club through a sweat equity project to the build of a pergola in the Pallative Care Unit Garden, donated by Jack Jones in memory of his loving wife, Jane.

The club continues to take care of the front garden and as it now is over 10 years old, the garden is getting a revamp in the coming year by original Landscape Ontario, Upper Canada Chapter project coordinator and new member to the Sunrise Club, Sian Pritchard.