Rotary Club of Kirkcaldy gives local charities a £9000 cash boost

President Alice Soper explained that towards the end of every Rotary year around the end of June, the club usually invites charities to attend a lunch and receive a donation from Rotary members.

But this year she said she asked members if they would agree to cheques being given out a little earlier to help those who are experiencing financial difficulties because of the ongoing health crisis.

The charities which benefited included: Marie Curie; The Linton Lane Centre in Kirkcaldy; Samaritans Kirkcaldy; Fife Women’s Aid; Kirkcaldy Foodbank; Fife Young Carers; Cottage Family centre; Salvation Army, Kirkcaldy; Relationships Scotland Couple Counselling Fife; Scotland’s Bravest (Scotland’s leading social enterprise employing ex-forces) and MND Scotland (with match funding raised by Kirkcaldy High School Interact Club).

Alice said the decisions on which charities would receive funding were based on suggestions from members, articles in the Fife Free Press highlighting charities in need of financial help as well as the club’s knowledge of several charities and the work they do .

She continued: “The money was allocated in different amounts with some receiving £1000 and others a smaller amount, though we would have loved to have been in a position to donate more.

“Unfortunately our main fundraising event was to have been a black tie dinner with an auction and Provost Jim Leishman as one of the invited speakers, but it was cancelled due to the current pandemic.”

Alice, who presented the cheques by social distancing in an innovative way - with the aid of a walking stick and clothes peg, added: “Our members continue to try to help with some privately donating to funds.”

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