Is the Lions Club For You? by Rick Nemett In Canada, we are blessed with a society that, for the most part, provides us with everything we need to survive - from universal healthcare to a social safety-net; our government, through the judicious use of our tax dollars, has our back, right? Right? – insert cricket noises – OK, reality check; much of what is there to support us in our times of need, is in fact NOT publicly funded. The Province may ‘fund’ the operational expenses of our hospital, but they don’t provide capital funding for a lot of the equipment used - for example, surgical equipment, IV pumps, wheelchairs, etc. The government may fund a homeless shelter, but they don’t necessarily fully fund the staffing. So where do all these ‘extras’ come from? Volunteers and donations are the real backbone of our country. This is where service clubs, like the Port Stanley Lions Clubs, fill a vital role. Lions Clubs look for the areas of need in our
communities and seek to fill the gaps; through volunteering (such as the Leos - our youth group - serving meals at the homeless shelter) or by raising funds for public services (such as our new Hospice, or a new piece of medical equipment that could improve surgical outcomes). At its core, a Lions Club is just a group of people who want to go beyond ‘thoughts & prayers’ and actually make a concrete improvement in people’s lives. Whether it’s just in our own community through the local food bank, across Canada such as through Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, or around the world through the Lions Clubs International Foundation, we work towards a better, more inclusive world for everyone. But the Port Stanley Lions Clubs are even more than that! Members, through their common interest in service, become friends which makes us a social-club of sorts as well! We meet twice a month to plan our service activities – the first meeting each month includes a dinner and time of fellowship before getting down to business. We are proud to be fully inclusive, but recognize that some may be more comfortable in a female- centric club such as the Lioness Lions Club. Both Clubs work closely together on many joint projects. As President, I want to personally invite you to one of the Port Stanley Lions Clubs’ events, service projects, or dinner meetings to see how you could fit in and make your mark on your community! Or come out on Saturday, May 24th for our Community Appreciation BBQ! We hope you join us!
To All of Our Amazing Volunteer Firefighters!
THANK YOU to all our volunteer Crisis Responders and Board Members 45 Caso Crossing, St. Thomas 519-631-3182 info@victimserviceselgin.com
Page 6 Port Stanley Villager • April 2025
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