The Kinsmen Club of Drayton is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the community.
Over the years, the club has made many contributions to the community, including operating the popular Drayton Kinsmen Farm Show for the past 36 years. Half of the admission fee to the event at the PMD arena is donated to Cystic Fibrosis (CF) research. The remainder of the proceeds from the show are put toward various Kinsmen projects in the local community.
Over the years the organization has completed hundreds of projects, including an addition to the agricultural society building, purchase of equipment for the local fire department, development of ball parks and soccer fields, and a large contribution to the PMD Arena.
In 2013, the Kinsmen, in partnership with the Moorefield Optimists and Township of Mapleton, raised funds and provided manpower to create new playgrounds at parks in Drayton and Moorefield. In 2015, the club joined forces with the municipality and Rothsay Darling Ingredients Inc. in the revitalization of the playground at Rothsay Park.
Those are only a few examples of what Kinsmen have done for the community. The club also provides support to a wide range of causes.
Recently, $3,088 raised at the second annual Smoke and Sounds event in June was divided between Ronald McDonald House charities in London and the Palmerston and District Hospital.
The club also provided a donation of $750 to a Palmerston Marlins softball team for its help with cleanup recyclables at the Drayton Fall Fair, and $750 to the Drayton Terry Fox Run in Drayton.
A $20,000 contribution was made from the club toward a planned splash pad in Drayton.
