COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE MINUTES
APRIL 16, 2025
In attendance: Don Taylor, Don Polk, Russ Phin, Elsabe Falson, Ronda Candy (guest), John Mirski, Jennifer Patelli
1. Fun Fair – June 7, 2025. Confirmed with committee that our club will provide a $1250 sponsorship. (All local clubs are providing this amount.)
2. Science Fair – Confirmed payment of an additional prize of $150.
3. Milles Illes Robitics: The French-language high school robotics club aims to raise $20K to purchase a robot that can interact with autistic and/or disabled youth who are in treatment at clinics at KGH, HDH and the Maltby Centre. Don Polk was wondering if our club would like to sponsor this project, noting that the funds could come from the Youth budget or the Community Services budget. He has contacted the Youth Service directors at the other local Rotary Clubs to determine their interest.
4. Martha’s Table: Ronda Candy informed the committee about the ongoing work of Martha’s Table, serving 400 meals/day, including dine-in 3X per day, take-out and home delivery (mid-day). Statistics show that 1/3 of Kingstonians are food insecure. Ronda provided blueprints, photos and a sketch of the facility and planned expansion. The renovation/expansion is in 3 phases, the first of which has been completed. They are seeking funding for Phase II currently, as they need a 25% deposit in order to start work mid-July. The estimated cost is $200K and will be used to move electrical ($10K), heating, ductwork ($70K), and to move the entrance to the 2nd level ($8K). The project will double the seating capacity and make meal service much more efficient. They also need a new refrigerator, which would cost $5-7K. (Phase III will include a drop-in center.)
Ronda reported that Martha’s Table has 9 full-time and 5 part-time staff, including 2 part-time community navigators, who know about agencies, supports, and forms to assist those in need. These navigators have made over 140 connections with clients so far! As Martha’s Table does NOT receive any government funding, they are looking for funds to pay the salaries of their employees. Most money comes from individual donors, though they also get some funds from Trillium. (Trillium has also been approached for grant money for the expansion.)
Next Meeting: May 21, 11:00am @ Kingston Yacht Club
Kingston-Frontenac
