The Rockwood Lions Club will be celebrating 45 years of serving the community in 2017.
“It’s … important that the community understand why the township supports the Lions the way we do because the work [the club does] isn’t done by anyone else,” Guelph-Eramosa Mayor Chris White said at the Oct. 17 council meeting.
“I’ve said this a thousand times … there are so many gaps in social services but at the end of the day I always know you can call the Lions to take care of whatever needs being taken care of.”
In its 45 years of existence the Rockwood Lions Club has raised about $10 million including labour and supplies.
In the last four years the club has donated $15,723 to the Rockwood community.
Rockwood Lions president Ken McNabb gave a report to council highlighting the various projects the Lions work on throughout the community, including but not limited to:
- – building Rockmosa community centre and tennis courts as well as maintaining Waterside Park and pavilion;
- – supporting Habitat for Humanity homes in Rockwood;
- – donated computers to Rockwood Centennial Public School;
- – raising money for Arden Shilletto, who has acute necrotizing encephalitis, to build a ramp and accessible washroom at her house;
- – assisting with the purchase of Operation Life Saver bracelets (that help locate the individual if they wander) for people with autism or Alzheimer’s disease;
- – road side cleanups;
- – walks and rides for charities;
- – Santa visits;
- – eye screening tests in Rockwood kindergarten classes; and
- – purchasing glasses for kindergarten students who are unable to pay for them.
“What a remarkable, remarkable list given that I know your (membership) numbers are not great,” said councillor David Wolk. “So amazing.”
White added, “This money goes back out into the community.
“It helps people in their homes … it’s amazing the work that you guys do with a little bit of funding so I think it’s important the public know that and appreciate that and we honour the service that you do – and the Lionesses as well, of course.”
Lioness president Doris Ens also highlighted how the Lioness club supports the community in addition to helping the Lions. Their efforts include, but are not limited to:
- – organizing the Good Brothers dinner and dance in May to raise entry fees for each Rockwood walker in the One Walk to Conquer Cancer;
- – monthly euchre nights to raise money for the Guelph General Hospital;
- – donating to Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre to support a horse; and
- – in partnership with the Lions, sponsoring a family in need at Christmas.
“We do everything we can possibly do to help the community … and we’re more than glad to do that,” Ens said.
