Papamoa Rotary Club has distributed $10,000 in the past few weeks to deserving local community groups.

To celebrate 10 years since Chartering in 2008, Papamoa Rotary decided to ask the local community to apply for community grants and President Russell Kilpatrick is pleased to report that distribution of the funds has been completed.

The first recipient of a $5000 grant is ‘Live for More' Charitable Trust. Rotary President Russell Kilpatrick presented the cheque to founder and trustee Krista Davis.

'This Trust takes at risk young adults and empowers them to find freedom from drugs, alcohol and crime,” says Russell.

The cheque was presented at the charity golf tournament held at the Mount golf course, which raised the funds for the community grants.

The second grant recipient is the Papamoa Community Patrol, which received $1500.

'This voluntary group patrols the local streets on a nightly basis, and is supported by the local police,” says Russell. 'They are looking to spend this on reflective safety clothing to help make their patrollers around Papamoa safer in the winter nights ahead.”

The third grant recipient is Papamoa Running Buddies, who have received $500 that they are spending on a barbeque, which they will use to raise further funds.

'This group is run by volunteers, with the aim of bringing people together by running. They use Facebook to arrange running groups locally.”

A grant of $2000 has also been awarded to Papamoa Neighbourhood Support. The $cheque was presented to Bruce Banks at a Rotary Meeting in June, and will be used to purchase 200 new pole signs, each one having both the police logo and Papamoa Rotary logo. The local Neighbourhood support organisation has over 5700 members and around 200 volunteer street co-ordinators.

The last grant was made to the local Te Aranui Youth Trust who have been presented with $1000.

'This was received by Tanya Grimstone and Community Constable Leanne Fairbairn, and the funds were to be used to continue with the mentoring of young Papamoa College girls aged from 10 to 15, and focuses on self-image, social media behaviour, mental health issues, drug and alcohol effects, self-defence, nutrition and first aid,” says Russell.