The Ormstown Lions Club has been a community organization in the Valley since 1961, and is now gearing up for its biggest annual fundraiser, the food drive. The current president, Eric Varin, says, “We give food to about 70 or 80 families in the Ormstown area.”
On November 3, the Lions were at the Barrie Memorial Hospital Bazaar, where they were helping out with the diabetes clinic, a part of their mission. Members are also working with Résidence-Elle to collect food and hygiene products for the women in need. The club meets twice a month and decides where to make donations. It has recently given funds to reading camps in Huntingdon, Scouts, Guides, rugby, and 4-H. “We try to spread the wealth,” Varin says.
It was recently announced that the Lions Club will be partnering with La Bouffe Additionelle to help people in need of food, following a generous donation. Varin knew that he could not turn this partnership down. “It’s so important right now; I’m lucky that I can eat, but some people can’t, so we need to work together. We’re small villages, and we have to help each other,” he says. The Lions Club also partners with the Ormstown Legion on similar goals.
Like many organizations in the Valley, the club has been struggling to gain new volunteers. “Everybody has their family, everybody has their work, so it’s really, really tough to find new volunteers,” Varin says. “That’s why we need partnerships with different people like this, so we can help each other out. Otherwise, in my opinion, things will come down – because no one will have the volunteers to work because people are aging,” he shares. The Lions Club is always looking for more members, but one can volunteer for them whether or not they join.
Varin emphasizes the club’s mission of helping people. “Maybe one day I’ll need the help back,” he says.