WELLINGTON NORTH – The Arthur Lions Club may seem small with just 20 members, but that just makes the success of their initiatives all the more impressive.
Lions Clubs are known for helping wherever they’re needed in a community, which appropriately suits the club motto: “We Serve.”
The Arthur club began in 1939 with an endeavour that has grown and evolved into what it is today: the Christmas Hampers program.
“It started initially just providing gifts for kids that weren’t going to get anything [for Christmas] … and now it is a full Christmas dinner plus provisions for a week or two for most families,” said club treasurer Laird More, who has been an Arthur Lion for 50-plus years.
During the first Christmas hamper event, club officials spent a total of $25 for all the kids – and today the program raises thousands of dollars, stated Lions officials.
Each year the club teams up with local schools, business, churches and community members to prepare Christmas hampers for families in need.
The program used to focus on helping families with kids but it has now expanded to “adult individuals that have no support”, More explained.
The hampers include food, gifts and provisions for those in need.
“The biggest part that I like is helping the people,” More said emotionally. “Some are just so grateful that it’s moments like that you know why you are a Lion.”
That’s why the hamper program is one of his favourites and also one of the club’s “more” important programs, More added.
“It’s very gratifying to be able to provide that service and humbling to help people that are really struggling.”
Last year the Arthur Lions Club handed out around 60 hampers, with a lot of the families in need having three or four children.
A newer, more recently completed project was the Brent Barnes Memorial Skatepark, which was finished in the summer of 2022.
The idea was proposed in 2017-18 by late Arthur resident and longtime club member Brent Barnes, who died in December of 2018. The park was then named in Barnes’ memory.
“It’s one that was very much needed for the youths in town and it gets a lot of use,” More said of the park.
With the help of an anonymous $100,000 donation, the idea was put into motion. The park can be found at 461 Eliza Street, behind the Arthur Optimist Pavilion.
Over the years the club has heavily supported various sports teams, including Arthur minor hockey and lacrosse.
“We helped get those organizations started and we sponsored teams along the way, provided them with uniforms and equipment,” More said.
Another project the club has supported is The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides’ “The Difference” campaign.
The campaign aims to build a new 89,000-square-foot national dog guide training school. To date Lions Clubs have helped raise $40 million of the $50-million goal.
“It is still a big project for the Lions; we have one lady here in town who has just gotten a new [guide] dog,” noted More.
Currently the club is also focused on helping local schools purchase new playground equipment, which is not covered by the government or school boards.
“Wherever there’s a need we’re there – mostly on a group basis, but sometimes on an individual basis, too,” said More.
Some of the Arthur Lions Club’s most popular local fundraisers are its chicken barbecue nights, which regularly sell over 800 meals, he stated.
This year, to celebrate its 85th anniversary, the club will host a chicken and roast beef dinner on Nov. 16 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Arthur, with DJ Steve Leask to follow.
“In the late 90s we started our chicken barbecues and they are still going strong,” added More.
Doors open at 6pm with dinner served at 7pm.
Anyone interested in becoming an Arthur Lions Club member can ask a current member or email arthurlionsclub@gmail.com.
