Phew, we have all got through another season of giving, in one way, or another.

Giving not only in appreciation of the love of our nearest and dearest, but also for those not near to us at all but who for various reasons are nevertheless still endearing to us.

The inevitable symptom of all of this giving, or wanting to give to all but can’t, eventually manifests itself in charity-fatigue.

Despite our own preferences for helping what we conceive as a deserving cause, we are constantly bombarded particularly at every year's end by a barrage of hopefuls, (all of which are no doubt equally deserving) for a share of, or at very least a crumb of our humanity.

Our innermost desire to be able to help every cause, some of which can be very persuasive, is tempered by our outermost ability to actually being able to help but a few of the hopefuls.

When it is over we are glad it is so, despite the joy that we feel at the time of our giving – that feeling of some our own humanity rubbing off on fellow man and woman; that feeling, being sated, is a good feeling.

But by now we truly are fatigued by it all. Please, no more appeals to our generosity – we have had enough; we have done what we can. Until next year.

But of course material giving is by no means the only way of giving, for the benefit of others.

Volunteering, giving free, one’s time, is an accomplished art for countless people of all ages and abilities, within the community.

The world as we have come to know it could not function as it does now, without volunteers.

The Rotary Club of Greenwich unashamedly contributes to that feeling of charity fatigue, throughout the year but particularly at Christmas, by cashing in literally on the local business community’s unstinting generosity, collecting, shaking-the-tin, outside Makro Self Service Wholesalers magnificent store in Charlton.

The club’s volunteers have been doing it at Makro for 33 years.

Rotary International is truly an international organisation – there is a Rotary Club in just about every country in the world. Rotary do wonderful things in the world.

Few people appreciate that Rotary’s volunteers have been instrumental in nearly eradicating polio from the world.

Just like the very last carrier of smallpox was “hunted down”, so it is presently with the last polio cases.

Although most club funds are distributed to local charities, Greenwich club, like all other Rotary clubs, also contributes to the international work.

February 27 sees major supermarkets doing their bit in support of Rotary’s community volunteers by encouraging store collections, in support of the Rotary Thanks for Life/End Polio Now campaign.

February 23 is Rotary’s 105th birthday. What better birthday present than seeing every £1 raised protecting five children against polio for life!

Greenwich Rotary Club although not quite 105 years young, has since 1926 continually supported the local community.

Its volunteers have helped and continue to help enumerable charitable organisations, deserving individuals and community projects, both small and not so small.

In the 1930s the Scouts camping ground at Downe, near Keston was donated by the club.

Recent projects have included the donation and support of a children’s pony for Riding for the Disabled at Charlton - to name but a few.

The Rotary International ShelterBox scheme, contributed to by Greenwich Rotary Club, has proved itself in the recent dreadful events in Haiti - ShelterBox teams being with the very first relief teams on the ground.

The list of Rotary’s community achievements is truly endless.

So, do not be fatigued. You gave generously last year. It was a good feeling you felt inside. Get that feeling again. There will be many needing you to have that feeling. They will be relying on you.

If you see a Rotary club collection in your local supermarket on February 27, go and get that good feeling back inside you.

Go to: rotarygreenwich.org.uk