A Lions Club in Rainy River is not new.
For many years, Lions members were active in the community in many charitable functions, raising funds and serving the community. But some years ago the local charter was disbanded as movers and shakers in the club passed away or moved.
However, last year with the support and the urging of Joanne Ogden of the Emo Lions Club, the Rainy River Baudette Borderland Charter was proposed with around 20 members mainly from the Rainy River area.
A “Charter Night” celebration is being planned for Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall Br. #54 in Rainy River.
Plan to attend? Call Jack Elliott at 807-852-3790 for more information.
So the Lions Club exists in our town. What have they done? What are they planning to do?
Locally and internationally, Lions have been very active in supporting Vision Health Programmes like the Eye Bank, the Eye Van, and early primary school Vision Screening Clinics, not to mention pediatric cancer care, hearing and hearing aids, support of the environment (tree planting, recycling, roadside cleanup), and diabetes support and education.
In Rainy River, we financially support expanded safe playground facilities for our children.
Recently in Rainy River, a new programme called Cycling Without Age was established using a “trishaw,” a passenger trike, to provide seniors or any mobility-impaired citizen with no-cost recreational touring around the community.
The goal, by providing the trishaw and staffing it with volunteer pilots, is to make sure our seniors are kept fully engaged in our community. The trishaw was in trials last summer and will be fully operational rolling up and down our streets and trails come spring.
The boat draw at the Rainy River Walleye Tournament must be run by an eligible charitable organization. It is a major attraction of the RRWT. Last year, the Lions undertook that chore. It is a major commitment from both a volunteer manpower and financial standpoint.
For 2020, the plan is to raffle a pontoon boat. Details and tickets will be available early in 2020.
Profits from the boat raffle as well as the current Lions’ 50/50 cash draw are directed within the community for local projects. The draw date for the 50/50 cash draw is Feb. 7, 2020; tickets are available from Lions’ members and local businesses.
But this work doesn’t just happen. It takes you and your contribution.
So please support your local Lions Club through their fundraisers, or even better, come out and join and serve.
Our next meeting will be held in the Hall of the Rainy River EC Church on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 at 7 p.m.
Come out and have your say.
