For the eighteenth consecutive year the vegetable growers of Franklin will once again show their extreme generosity by donating produce to the annual Christmas appeal for the Salvation army.Which this year will occur on Wednesday the 19th of December
Started by the Rotary Club of Drury in 2001 this has become a regular event in the week leading up to Xmas . Three big trucks each with a crew of three set out just after 8.00 am from the car park in Drury, with the last one not usually returning till after 6.00pm !! A truly full but also fulfilling day.
In the weeks leading up to the day, growers will be contacted, some of who have contributed since the event originated.
Last year the weather was not good for the Growers, and we expected the collection to be less than had been in good growing seasons, but despite comments about how bad a season they were experiencing the growers still managed to “overfill” our trucks.
Following the pick up the trucks go for unloading at the Salvation Army Centre in Manukau where an army of volunteers are assembled to unload,sort and pack into Salvation Army vehicles for distribution all over Auckland. Over the years this has become a very slick operation , to the stage that last year the Church volunteers did all the unloading whilst the truck crews were treated to afternoon tea.
Last year for the first time we also donated some produce to the Franklin Family Support group in Pukekohe
As none of our Rotarians have trucks we also have to rely on the generosity of local firms lending us vehicles for the day.
So in anticipation of another successful collection , a very heartfelt thanks you to all those that assist in this very worthwhile Rotary project
Trevor Stevens Rotary Club of Drury