THE Rotary Clubs in Worcester have announced that they will not be able to run their Christmas Parcels project this Christmas.

The project, which started over 50 years ago sees the Worcester Rotary Clubs collect food from the local community in early December, before making up food parcels which are delivered to some of those most in need in Worcester.

At its peak, the project has delivered over 1,000 parcels in time for Christmas. As well as food essentials the parcels included mince pies, a Christmas pudding, and a Christmas card from the clubs.

This week, members of the city’s Rotary Clubs announced that due to Covid-19 the clubs had decided it would be impossible, due to Covid restrictions and risk, to run the project.

This announcement means the clubs will not be delivering their usual Christmas Parcels for the first time in over 50 years.

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President Pat Stone of the Rotary Club of Worcester said: “We are so sorry that we will not be able to help the needy of Worcester this year, but the current circumstances make it impossible to do so.

“We are thinking of all those we could have helped at this time. As a Club we are finding new ways of working and have been able to provide significant financial support to the local community. We have been of service to Worcester for nearly 100 years and intend to keep making a difference.”

Worcester Vigornia Rotary Club President, Lucy Hodgson, said “Not doing the Christmas Parcels this year was an immensely difficult decision, however, over the last few months we have been fundraising and supporting local charities and organisations and are working on more projects as we speak to make a difference in Worcestershire and beyond.”

There has been a Rotary Club in Worcester since 1923 and it has been of service locally, nationally and internationally since then. The Christmas Parcels Project is a joint effort between the Rotary Clubs of Worcester and Worcester Vigornia.

Rotary is a voluntary organisation and its membership is open to both men and women.

Rotary’s charity work makes an impact globally, with projects like the eradication of Polio and locally by working for its communities.