Local rotary club to hold Shredfest event on May 6

St. Vital

St. Boniface

Sage Creek

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This article was published 01/03/2023 (1130 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A longtime southeast Winnipeg organization wants to help community members safely dispose of personal documents while supporting a good cause at the same time.

The Rotary Club of St. Boniface-St. Vital will hold its latest Shredfest event on Saturday, May 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Vital Centre (1225 St. Mary’s Rd.) near the transit loop and SilverCity cinema.

Some of the main goals of the event are to help individuals,small businesses and organizations securely and affordably shred documents that may contain sensitive information, while also putting people’s minds at ease, increase the recycling of paper, and reduce the demand for landfill services.

Shredfest is a fundraiser for the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation and its purchase of a Freedom Concepts adaptive bicycle. There is no set fee for Shredfest, but a $10 donation per banker’s box is suggested and welcomed.

“The bicycle is specially designed for kids with little or no ability to walk or move around, and it drastically enhances their lives,” said David Ronson, the club’s current president.

In keeping with the mandate of Rotary International member clubs, the Rotary Club of St. Boniface-St. Vital chooses to create or support programs, organizations and events that foster goodwill and friendships and benefit all concerned.

Ronson, who lives in Sage Creek, became involved with the club on the recommendation of his brother-in-law after he retired in 2019. He said the club provides an outlet for members to reach out and help in the community, as well as on opportunity to build long-lasting friendships.

“Our club has been around since the 1950s, and it started off as a place for businesspeople to meet on a regular basis. It’s still a place for people to make contacts and build relationships, but more importantly, it’s about reflecting the goals of Rotary International in terms of offering volunteer services and holding events to help the community and those in need,” Ronson said.

Ronson said the club would welcome new members. At present, the average age of members is just over 60, and younger members — professionals aged between 30 and 50 — would be especially welcome to ensure membership continues through the generations.

“Of course, one of the main benefits of the club is that it gives our members the opportunity to volunteer in the community,” Ronson said.

Club members meet on a regular basis, and — like many others — adapted to meeting virtually due to the pandemic.

“COVID-19 changed things and we started Zoom meetings to help us keep in touch with each other. If someone was feeling down, the camaraderie of the meetings helped pick them up,” Ronson said.

“Meeting virtually also really helps if someone couldn’t get away from work, or if any of our members are snowbirds — this way they can still meet, whether they’re in Florida, Mexico or anywhere else.”

Members currently meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month — the latter is an in-person dinner gathering.

The rain date for the Shredfest event is the following week — Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Visit winnipeg-saints-rotary.com for more information.