In one of the many initiatives the Innisfil Lions take pride in, the club donated $10,000 to local charities and organizations at their meeting on Tuesday.
“On behalf of the Innisfil Lions Club, we are pleased to present donations to five local charities and our Lions District A12,” club president Alison Jacks said. “With the ongoing support of the Innisfil community and the hard work of our Innisfil Lions, we increased our Christmas donations to $10,000 this year.”
The Lions Club has donated $5,000 and $8,000 in one night on previous occasions.
Recipients at the Dec. 3 event included Community for Kids (C4K), Innisfil Christmas Cheer, Candlelighters Simcoe, the Innisfil Food Bank, and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Simcoe County branch. Each of those organizations received $1,000.
“The Lions Club is a great organization that works hard to support local charities. We are so appreciative of the donation they give us each year,” said C4K president Myrlene Boken. “Our work would not be possible without the support of local groups. Thank you to all members for your hard work on our behalf.”
“The food bank saw another record number of people — 186 families — in November,” food bank coordinator Donna Sawyer said. “Our shelves, which are usually getting full at this time of year, are still rather bare. With the support of our neighbours like the Lions Club, we are able to purchase what we need at this time. We could not continue to meet the need without our generous community. We are so grateful.”
In addition to adding the CMHA to their Christmas donation list, which Jacks called an “important organization” to “help promote mental health awareness and support,” the club also donated $5,000 to Lions District A12. Their donation will support Campfire Circle.
She noted Lions district governor Denise Naughton is working hard to raise funds for the Muskoka Region summer camp for children with cancer and their families.
"Our club is excited to support this great cause,” Jacks said.
“This year’s A12 District Lions Clubs project plan is to help Campfire Circle camp in Rosseau bring healing through happiness to more kids with cancer or serious illness and their families,” Naughton said.
She said the district consists of 44 clubs stretching from Georgian Bay to south of Highway 9.
“One in four families of a child with cancer lose almost half of their household income, as one caregiver often needs to take time away from work, all while costs such as medication, transportation, and accommodation near hospitals continue to increase," Naughton said. "These families face even more hurdles to accessing social and leisure activities that are critical to healthy child development.”
"The main point that drew my attention to the Muskoka location is the fact that it is the only camp in Canada equipped to offer IV chemotherapy and blood transfusions on site — and they are able to offer the care kids need right on site, so they can return to being a kid and enjoy the camp experience just like any other kid. These experiences include high-ratio staff and volunteer support, medical care, meals, transportation and a roster of accessible sports and recreational activities.”
“Innisfil Lions Club's generous donation will contribute to the goal of raising funds to sponsor a cabin of campers — 10 kids — for one full week of overnight camp, which costs $25,000,” Naughton said.
Learn more about the club by checking out its website.