DRAYTON – The Kinsmen Club of Drayton is one of over 400 clubs across Canada dedicated to serving their community and the Kin Canada organization.
The first club was founded in 1920 by a Hamilton man named Harold Rogers and 48 years later Drayton would begin a club.
According to president Ray Kuper, the club was originally chartered by the Kinsmen Club of Harriston in 1968.
The club currently has 16 active members and is always open to more. Joining is as easy as reaching out to a member, being invited by a friend or connecting through the club’s Facebook page.
“We have a handful of annual fundraisers,” Kuper told the Advertiser.
He said those are discussed over dinner and a meeting every second and fourth Thursday of the month.
Yearly club initiatives include the fall fair beer tent, two wing nights, a Christmas tree sale and of course the Drayton Farm Show.
The show stands as the club’s biggest fundraiser where “the community really comes together,” explained Kuper.
This year also marks the fourth annual outdoor show held at the Drayton Arena on June 7. The club will be raffling off a shotgun in hopes of raising funds for future projects.
Asked where proceeds go Kuper stated, “Kin Canada’s motto is ‘Serving the Community’s Greatest Need’, so it’s whatever comes up throughout the year.”
The members also support local minor sports, families in need, and the Drayton Food Bank.
Each holiday season they host a Christmas tree sale, selling up to 100 trees.
Once the trees have reached their end of life, members offer to pick up the trees in exchange for a food donation.
“We usually get a good healthy table full of donations,” he said.
Funds from tree sales go towards supporting research and patient care for Cystic Fibrosis Canada (CFC), a not-for-profit corporation helping individuals with the genetic condition.
Kin Canada and its clubs have raised over $50 million for CFC since 1964.
Kuper first joined the club when he was 19 years old and now, as a grown man, he still feels gratified by helping his community.
He reminisced about a time he saw a family use a shade shelter the club had built for a town park, stating, “it feels good to be able to give back.”
“I found a whole other group of friends [through the club] and … (get to) be a part of the community in a greater way,” he said.
For those interested in joining the Kinsmen Club of Drayton, Kuper said, “just give it a try because it is satisfying running events and seeing the community come out and be involved.”
To get in contact with the club email draytonkinsmen@gmail.com. For more information visit kincanada.ca.
