As we roar into another Holiday season, we have certain expectations: there will be a Christmas lighting ceremony downtown, St. Mark’s will host a pageant, people will flock to the Country Pastimes Market in Lemonville, and the Stouffville Lions Club will be selling Christmas trees at Canadian Tire. Each year around this time the Lions also hold a toy and gift drive for children. Drop off points such as the Fire Halls, Town offices and recreation facilities, and private businesses are organized, while gifts of toys and food are deposited by the public. Families in need are self-identified and given the opportunity to apply for a Christmas Basket.
In the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life, we sometimes forget that our expectations include the generous activities of others, without recognizing the significance.
Without the Stouffville Lions Club, the Stouffville community would not be the same as it is today. The Stouffville Lions is coming up on its 81st anniversary (formed January 13, 1938). Over the years, Stouffville Lions have contributed to the social fabric of the community, from organizing Christmas light tours for seniors, fishing derbies at Burd’s Trout Pond and funding student art shows, to participating in annual events and supporting local sports teams. A brief historical media scan reveals the following:
In the mid-1940s the Lions Club Winter Carnival routinely drew crowds up to 800 people, while at the same time the Lions bought shares to help build a new local ice arena, and they supported British bomb victims. Between 1950-53, Stouffville Lions continued providing free eye exams and TB chest x-rays for children, installed new baseball bleachers, hard-topped the tennis courts, coordinated the Easter Seals campaign, and supported overseas flood victims.
In 1965, they installed a swimming pool heater, held a music festival, and sponsored a teen dance at the Stouffville High. In 1972, the 2nd annual Lions Bike-a-thon attracted 550 cyclists, and they purchased and operated a 40-seat bus for the transportation of local sports teams and organizations. In 1986, Stouffville Lions hosted Ontario Premier David Peterson at their Barbecue in Town Park, held an Elimination Draw & Dance at Cedar Beach, and subsidized a new heating system in the Rec Centre.
I fell short of reading the more than 5,200 articles available in the WSP Library’s online database. However, evidence abounds – they helped reconstruct the pavilion in Memorial Park, built the gazebo on Main Street and installed the plumbing and electrical work in the Stouffville Train Station. They operated Stouffville’s outdoor swimming pool for many years. The Stouffville Lions Club also supports the work of Lions International.
It is important to note that Stouffville Lions Club, as do all other Lions Clubs, devote all monies raised from the public to our philanthropic activities. The cost of administering the club is borne by all club members directly through fees, raffles, dinner meetings, etc., and does not come from any public source. The Club is not political or religious nor does it allow members to use club activities to promote their own personal advantage. They exist only “to Serve”.
As for the Christmas Tree sales, they start at the end of November and continue until all trees are sold or Christmas happens, whichever comes first. Each year Canadian Tire has helped them by providing this space together with fencing, security and the use of their electricity. Their sales personnel come from club members and a wide army of volunteers from the WSP Library, Hagerty Insurance, High School students accruing service hours, and Stouffville Boy Scouts. Tree sales account for about 50% of Stouffville Lions’ income for the year. All profit goes into the Club’s Activity Fund for philanthropic pursuits.
For the rest of the year, Stouffville Lions are busy with their School Vision Screening Program, offering assistance to people and families on a case by case basis, and operating the Rubber Ducky Races during Strawberry Festival. Recently they financed the early literacy child learning computer section at the “new” Library. The Lions assist the Stouffville Scouts group to attend a Jamboree, the St. James Student Music Program, the High School Music Program, and The Latcham Art Centre Student Awards.
The Stouffville Lions Club have an accomplished record. The Club is stable with 26 active members coming from all walks of life; however, more members equate to more community activity. The organization is open to all genders and ages, and meets on 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month at Latcham Hall starting at 7pm.
