The Chiang Mai International Rotary Club concluded its 2020 Children’s Winter Clothing & School Supplies Appeal last month. We recorded almost 7,000 km picking up and distributing the generous donations made by our incredible community. According to estimates, we collected and delivered around 10,000 kg (22,000 pounds) of warm clothing, blankets, shoes, jackets, school supplies, toys, and some canned food to five Thai provinces - Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Nan, and Loei.
CMIRC distributed donations to the hard-to-access Thai village of Ban Na Haeo in Loei, the ethnic Hmong and Akha Ban Lao U in Nan; the Baan Mae U Khonoi School in Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son; the mostly Shan and Lahu Ban Huai Muang School in Wiang Pa Pao, Chiang Rai; the Ban Pui School in Hot District; the Ban Pha Lai Learning Centre in Chiang Dao where Akha, Lisu, Karen, Lahu, and Palaung hill tribe students study; two Karen hill tribe communities on Doi Inthanon; the ethnic Karen Ban Huai Khao Lip Catholic School in Mae Wang, and the Ban Khun Tae School in Chom Thong, Chiang Mai Province. What’s more, we delivered sixteen cans of high-quality baby formula donations to Nikki’s Place Agape Home, a renowned institution caring for orphans and children living with HIV/AIDS.
We cannot thank enough for the help of our generous community, friends, and Rotarians. We are grateful for your contributions! Kudos to the Rimping Supermarket chain, Makro, The Interact Clubs of Chiang Mai International School (CMIS) and Unity Concord International School (UCIS), Lanna International School Thailand (LIST), Chiangmai University Demonstration School (Satit CMU), the Chiang Mai Expats Club, Philanthropy Connections and The Road To A Better Life Foundation for making it possible for us to place our donation boxes on their premises.
Special thanks to our supportive friends, families, and fellow Rotarians - in no particular order: John, Kim, Nick, Nancy, Roger, and Jerry to participate in this truly community project. A big pat on the back for Dylan for his tireless driving ability.
Enjoy a video showing some of the villages and roads traveled by Dylan:
The donation boxes will go out again on October 15, 2021. See you again then!