Community Service
 
Community Service Committee - Annual Report 2013-2014
 
 
We thank all of our committed members and the guidance of Dr. John Joseph Mastandrea (Past Chair), Binoy Luckoo (Chair), Massood Mashadi (Vice-Chair), Rafael Lopez (Secretary) and Kenneth Rawlins (Board Liaison). 
 
In addition to the Committee’s broad-based community work, the CSC has an Environmental Sub Committee, chaired by Kevin Power, which takes the lead on environmental issues within our Club.
 
Through a combination of financial grants and people assistance, including sweat equity, the CSC supported the following new and continuing philanthropic initiatives:
 
•    Vern Harper Healing Lodge – this initiative is to help native men and women living on the streets of Toronto that are suffering from alcohol and other addictions to reconnect with their spiritual roots through native healing practices.
 
•    Homeless Connect Toronto - To support the Homeless Connect Toronto event, the gathering of service providers, such as doctors, dentists, hairdressers, podiatrists, pastoral service, etc to help homeless people from the streets of Toronto. This event took place in April at the Toronto Harbourfront Community Centre. This money is to purchase T-shirts for volunteers to wear as well as bags, which will contain kits for the homeless people. 
 
•    Metropolitan United Church – support the Out of the Cold program at Metropolitan United Church which provides a place where those on the streets in the Queen Street/Church Street area can come in for a hot meal on Thursdays during the winter months.
 
•    St Andrews Church – provided funding for the Out of Cold program to feed homeless people during the winter months.
 
•    Toronto Police 52nd Division – provided funding for an event by the Toronto Police to increase community awareness and recognition of policing services while strengthening police-community ties. It is a collaborative event undertaken among federal, provincial, territorial and municipal law enforcement organizations, all of which support activities at the local level.

•    Street to Trail – Street to Trail is a charitable organization that gives vulnerable people (homeless, recovering from drug abuse, etc) the opportunity to experience the outdoors and a sense of community.  Funding was provided to support hiking and/or backpacking & canoe trips by 10 individuals over the summer & fall months of 2014. 
 
•    Bossy Ducharme – funded a portion of a documentary on the benefits and importance of native diet food.
 
The Environmental Sub Committee assisted the following organizations with their environmental initiatives:
 
•    Ritchie Parkette – The Rotary Club of Toronto with support from the Weston Foundation helped rehabilitate this Roncesvalles neighbourhood parkette. Children from the neighbourhood can now enjoy nature and wildlife in an urban neighbourhood.
 
•    TCRC – Funded a gardening program in Regent Park.
 
•    Eva’s Initiatives – Funded a gardening program for homeless youth at one of the downtown shelters administered by Eva’s Initiatives.
 
The 2014/2015 Community Service Committee Executive members are:

Chair:                  Binoy Luckoo
Vice-Chair:          Massood Mashadi
Secretary:           Rafael Lopez
Board Liaison:    Ross Amos

Chair for the Environmental sub-committee:  Alex Zalewski
 
 
The CSC monthly meeting schedule is as follows and is held at the Rotary Club of Toronto Boardroom.
The dates and venue may change from time to time to accommodate Committee members.
 
September 29, 2014
October 27, 2014
November 24, 2014
December 22, 2014 
January 26, 2015 
February 23, 2015 
March 23, 2015 
April 27, 2015 
May 25, 2015 
June 22, 2015 

It has been both a privilege and rewarding experience to serve as members of the Community Services Committee during the 2013/14 year. 
We thank the outgoing executive members for their continued support and all of the Committee members for their active involvement and commitment.
We look forward to making 2014/2015 a great year of service for the committee and its members.
 
Sincerely

Binoy Luckoo
Chair
Rotary Club of Toronto, Community Service Committee