Over the last two decades, the Erin Lions Club has donated over $132,000 to the town for various projects at the community centre.
And last week members presented to Mayor Rod Finnie the club’s most recent gift – a $40,000 cheque to help pay for a new food bank space in the arena addition that is currently under construction.
In accepting the cheque, Finnie thanked the club and said it is partnerships like the town has with the Lions Club “that make this community work.”
David Robart-Morgan, president of East?Wellington?Community Services, which runs the food bank, also praised the club for its donation. “I’d like to thank the Lions Club from the bottom of my heart,” he said, adding EWCS looks forward to moving in by Dec. 15 and running this year’s Christmas hamper drive from there.
Lions Club spokesman Dick Dow said the club always has, and always will, respond to any pressing needs in the community.
Past Lions Club donations to the town include over $50,000 to help build the Shamrock room on the second floor of the community centre, $5,000 for a new ice resurfacer for the arena, $25,000 towards the cinema and $12,000 for a new scoreboard in the arena.
In return for the donations, the club receives free rentals of the Shamrock Room for meetings and events.
