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Joop Van Essen is Delta’s newest Paul Harris Fellow

On May 21, the Tsawwassen Rotary Club honored Joop Van Essen as a Paul Harris Fellow. Named for the founder of Rotary, the Paul Harris Fellow can be awarded to Rotarians and non-Rotarians who have demonstrated the values of “Service Above Self.
Harris Fellow
Named for the founder of Rotary, the Paul Harris Fellow can be awarded to Rotarians and non-Rotarians who have demonstrated the values of “Service Above Self.”

On May 21, the Tsawwassen Rotary Club honored Joop Van Essen as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Named for the founder of Rotary, the Paul Harris Fellow can be awarded to Rotarians and non-Rotarians who have demonstrated the values of “Service Above Self.”

Club members annually nominate a community member worthy of this recognition, and Van Essen was a popular choice.

He has volunteered with the South Delta Food Bank for more than 30 years, and for the past several years has managed the operation. Van Essen was quick to acknowledge the many volunteers who support the Food Bank in assisting members of the community dealing with short or long-term poverty. Through inspiring and managing volunteers, and with the oversight of the Lighthouse Church, the Food Bank, under his leadership, operates as a stand-alone operation that is completely volunteer-based and free of administrative overhead. 

In the words of Rotary Club member Henk Veldhuis, “Joop is a person of high morals and character and is a friend and an inspiration.”

The presentation was made at the regular Thursday morning meeting, held via Zoom.

In recognition of his service and to support this worthy cause, Rotarians also donated $500 to the Delta Food Bank.