The ceremony was held in the presence of Mayor Gilles Bayart and several elected officials. Alongside club presidents Odile Peloutier, Jean Martin-Vivier, and Noël Monneau, Rodolphe Gibert, head of protocol, recalled the motto of the 27 members: 'We serve.'
Several beneficiaries received financial support, including the Barthélemy-Durand Nursing School, the Red Cross of Étampes, the Chaplaincy of Étampes, 4A L’Escale – Alzheimer's respite center, the La Patte tendue association, and the IME La Feuilleraie. Support was also provided to Stéphane and Émilie Petit, parents of Robin, 7, who has adrenoleukodystrophy.
The LEAO Sud-Essonne association, which supports victims of domestic and intra-familial violence, will see its listening center open on November 19th, a project realized with the joint support of the Rotary and Lions Club of Étampes.
This donation event marks the culmination of a year of volunteer commitment through various activities: Arts and Crafts Fair, solidarity fair, concerts, vision and diabetes screenings, Food Bank, eyewear collection, AFM-Téléthon, Mimosas du cœur, and Pink October.
Mayor Gilles Bayart praised the dedication of the volunteers, calling the associations and local businesses 'two locomotives' of Étampes. He reaffirmed the municipality's support, stating, 'Without you, a city does not exist. This donation evening is the very illustration of the strength of volunteering and solidarity that translates into concrete actions serving others. I sincerely thank you.'
