Firstly, the club, which I've been a member of for about four years, has been serving and volunteering in this community for more than 80 years. The Lions Club, for example, built the Lions Pool for the City in the 1940s and when the City wanted to take over operating it, the Lions sold it to the municipality for $1.
We have countless fundraisers, including operating a large food tent at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show in September to raise dollars to assist many community needs and projects. The Lions Club runs the beverage garden for both Cowapolooza and Canada Day in Southside Park, we are the organizing committee for the annual Terry Fox Run with member Bill Gillespie chairing the activity.
The Lions Club operates the weekly bingo at the Legion on Thursdays.
Also, A Ladies Night Out fundraiser makes money in two ways -- selling tickets for a dinner and selling vendors tables to businesses such as Pampered Chef and Osbourne Books. Everyone wins!
As a volunteer work force the Lions Club assists with The Christmas Place, the Santa Claus and Victoria Day parades, the annual soapbox go-kart rally, community barbecues, and the important early-morning get-up-before-dawn cleanup crew for the Canadian Cancer Society's Relay For Life.
The Lions Club also owns a historic fire truck which makes many public appearances throughout the county at events and parades. When you attend the Woodstock Santa parade you always know the jolly olde fellow in red is next when you our jolly olde fellow -- Lion Ed -- driving the red truck.
Speaking about getting our hands dirty, the Lions Club does highway garbage pickup twice a year on both Highway 2 on the west end of Woodstock and the nearby Lions Club / Standard Tube walking trails.
Cheques are written annually for high school bursaries, support for seeing-eye dogs, local Christmas charities, and for many one-time-only requests for items including prescription glasses and household assistive devices for people in need who make a formal request to our 'charitable reponse' committee.
Just this past week, the Lions Club paid for a Christmas dinner and distributed presents to children in a local organization. The gentleman in the red suit and beard was also a Lions Club member.
I tell friends of mine always, that the Lions Club of Woodstock is a great group of people doing great work. Call me if you're interested in joining in on the fun.
Woodstock is a great community, but it has become that thanks to the sum of its parts. You can do your part, by joining the Lions Club.
Mark Schadenberg, sale rep
Royal LePage Triland
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
(519) 537-1553
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