Members of the Rotaract Club of Chandigarh Midtown, RID 3080, arrived at the Advanced Paediatric Centre at PGIMER, Chandigarh, carrying bags of toys as part of their Christmas celebration initiatives. “We stopped at each bedside, offering small gifts to children undergoing treatment. Children sat up, caregivers, especially mothers, relaxed, and the room momentarily loosened its grip on worry,” says club president Dilreet Kaur.
Named Khushiyon-ka-Pitara (box of happiness), the project helped distribute around 300 toys. Most of the children here come from underprivileged backgrounds, and some of them are hospitalised for a long time. “We just wanted to add some fun and help them enjoy a light moment.” The children unwrapped their gifts immediately and were absolutely thrilled to see their toys, which were age-appropriate and safe. Dr Praveen Kumar, HOD, Paediatrics, PGIMER, appreciated the effort, saying that “small gestures of kindness play a significant role in uplifting children during difficult medical journeys.”
Under another initiative, Sardi ki Wardi (winter’s uniform), the club, in association with the Inner Wheel Club of Chandigarh Midtown and Shiksha Sab Ke Liye, an NGO, distributed 100 cartons of woollen clothes to over 350 families at PGIMER, Chandigarh. This also included new winter wear worth ₹60,000, contributed by the Inner Wheel club. “The initiative supported families of patients — many from economically weaker sections — who brave harsh winter while staying outdoors near the hospital.” The NSS wing of the Government Girls Model School, Chandigarh, assisted in the distribution.
Alumni meet
The Grand Alumni Meet brought together former members of the club, right from the founding batch of 1983 and 13 past presidents over the last two decades. “This club has always been bigger than individual terms or titles. The reunion showed that the values we inherited decades ago are still alive and guiding us today,” says Dilreet.
This wasn’t just a celebration of our past. It was a reminder that service is most meaningful when it responds to the present.
– Aman Garg, Event chair
It was an evening of reflection with purpose, featuring conversations about earlier projects, leadership challenges, presentations and heartfelt speeches. The meet raised ₹30,000 on the spot, and the amount was given for flood relief work.
“This wasn’t just a celebration of our past. It was a reminder that service is most meaningful when it responds to the present,” says event chair Aman Garg.
Organised entirely by current members, “the alumni meet honoured the club’s legacy while also responding to an immediate need, showing that relationships built through service continue to matter long after formal membership ends,” he smiles.