Andover Events Charity Community Local News

Anton Rotary’s club Kicks off Christmas Fund Raising

Anton Rotary Club is once again back on the fund-raising trail this Christmas to boost its charity funds to help local charities as well as individuals where there is need.

Two years have passed since the club members were able to instigate successful fund raising programmes so it is with great enthusiasm that the club, released for the time being from Government rules for COVID-19, are once again back fund raising for the Andover community.

Anton Rotary Club’s chocolate Santa project has been well received by so many pubs in and around Andover where beautifully made chocolate Santa’s are on display to attract folk in these pubs to enter a raffle for just £1 on the 100 box chart being displayed alongside the chocolate Santa’s.  The chocolate Santa’s measures approximately 14 inches in height and weighs approximately two and half pounds.  It is decorated with delicious white chocolate accents that will appeal to chocolate lovers.  The drawing of the winning tickets will take place at the publicans’ discretion once all 100 boxes have been filled.  Barry Hawgood, the club’s project. Member, says “This venture is a wonderful way of getting so many of Andover’s residents to contribute to raising funds for those in need within Andover and thanks every public and contributor for taking part”.

The club has also been able in the last week give a donation of £1000 towards Icknield School’s fund-raising programme run by its “Friends of Icknield school charity” provide necessary specialist equipment that cannot be sourced from the Government.

The club has also been able to accept from the Works retail shop in the Chantry Centre several boxes of children’s toys, games and books that the shop has been collecting for several months thanks to the generosity of the public visiting the store and making a purchase. The manager and staff of the Works should be congratulated for such an initiative and Anton Rotary club will be ensuring these children’s items reach many children in the area that will not be able to enjoy Christmas as many other children will do.

Andi Frost the Works manager passing over the boxes of toys collected to Barry Hawgood of Anton Rotary Club.

This year’s fund raising by the club will be finished off this year by bringing along Santa’s sleigh to Asda on several days leading up to Christmas Eve. These days are Friday, 17 December, Saturday, 18 December from 2.30 pm onwards, Sunday, 19 December and Thursday, 23 December. Apart from Saturday, all timings from 10 am to 4 pm.

Club members will be ensuring that shoppers entering and leaving Asda enjoy the music and good cheer that club members will hopefully provide weather permitting and if there are any  charitable people out there who would like to help out with the club’s Santa sleigh please give its secretary, Dr Alex Armstrong a ring on 01264 773690.









Santa’s last visit to Asda.