FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Students of East End Preschool in Freetown, East Grand Bahama, who were relocated to Freeport Primary School in Freeport following Hurricane Dorian, were the recipients of much-needed school supplies and materials on Thursday, November 14, thanks to the Rotary Clubs of Grand Bahama.
The initiative was the brainchild of Rotary Club of Grand Bahama President Christine van der Linde and Ms. Cara Chan, daughter of Louis Chan of the Rotary Club of Freeport.
“The students, led by their teacher Ms. Roosheeda Rolle, expressed great appreciation for the gesture,” according to a post on Facebook. “Ms. Rolle is revered in the education community as a modern day ‘Miss Frizzle,’ exuding great passion for her students and their learning. Ms. Cara Chan and many of her friends abroad were excited to help in this worthwhile initiative after learning of the need from President Christine. The students now refer to her as ‘Aunty Cara’ their new fairy godmother.”
The Preschoolers presented a hand-made card to President Van der Linde. Other Rotarians on hand for the gift-giving were Ms. Lorine Miller, President of The Rotary Club of Freeport; Louis Chan, member of The Rotary Club of Freeport; and Roosevelt Rolle Jr., Assistant Secretary for The Rotary Club of Grand Bahama.
As noted in the Facebook post, “Service Above Self (Rotary International’s motto) is certainly the order of the day, as we rebuild and restore Grand Bahama Island.”
East End is one of the areas of Grand Bahama substantially devastated during the first week of September by category 5 Hurricane Dorian, which also caused considerable destruction in Abaco.
Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance K. Peter Turnquest, who represents East End in the House of Assembly, is a long-time Rotarian a Past-President of the Rotary Club of Lucaya, and on November 1, he was among a group of Rotarians who delivered roofing materials donated by the Rotary Clubs of Grand Bahama to residents of East End.
Included in that group were Lisbeth Maigaard Knowles, Rotary Area Governor, Grand Bahama; James Sarles, Past-President, Rotary Club of Grand Bahama Sunrise; and Ray Williams, Governor of Rotary District 6990, and Tom Powers, Rotary Area Governor for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who were visiting Freeport at the time.
