Lioness members support local projects

By Sue Green

Hello spring! Seeing people outside smiling and walking is a welcome sight.

The Long Point Lioness Lions Club dinner meeting on March 10 at the Country Fork welcomed Lion Mike O’Connor, who updated the club on the new format of the Lions’ June car show.

The guest speaker was Jessica M. Durka, founder of South Coast Community Caring for Cancer. Jessica shared her story of being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer, eight years ago. During her first treatments, an unknown fellow cancer warrior gave her a bag of items to help her cope during her chemo treatments. This gesture touched her heart and inspired Jessica to give back.

A few years later, South Coast Community Caring for Cancer was born. Jessica purchased items and made up gift bags for cancer patients to offer the comfort she experienced. The journey is now four years on with 18 core volunteers and over 1,300 gift bags delivered. Each bag is valued at about $350 and made for women, men, children or everyone. They also make bags each summer for Campfire Circle Rainbow Lake in Waterford—a camp for kids and families affected by childhood cancer.

South Coast Community Caring for Cancer is funded by donations from caring people, small businesses and organizations. The Long Point Lioness Club chose Caring for Cancer as their personal fundraiser and members have been collecting items since December. Along with the donated items, the club presented Jessica with a $500 donation. To learn more about this cause, visit cccsouthcoast.ca.

Recap of events

The club welcomed two new members who will have their induction ceremony in April. Welcome to Deb Coady, sponsored by Lioness Deb Shaw, and Carli Neuman, sponsored by Lioness Beth Lounsbury.

The club announced the sponsorship of Monty Zajac for the A2 Youth Exchange program to Italy this summer. In a written request, Monty outlined his volunteer work and demonstrated his understanding of the importance to serve and his commitment to volunteer.

Sales of 50/50 tickets are underway at $5 each with the winner to receive $3,000 at Bayfest weekend’s Lions’ Club Chicken BBQ. Tickets are available from Lioness members, the Country Fork, Jonny K’s Fresh Produce, and Doerksen Country Store.

Upcoming events

Long Point Lioness Lions Club is supporting a Lions A2 District service project called Soles4Souls Canada. The goal is to collect 10,000 pairs of shoes of any kind to send to developing countries. Lioness Deb Shaw is convening this project with over 230 pairs of footwear collected so far. A special shout-out to Sue Knighton who approached the Fellowship Church and the Port Rowan Thrift Store, who generously donated footwear. If you have any gently used footwear, please email longpointlioness@gmail.com and they will arrange for pickup or drop off.

Saturday, May 24, is the next Lioness Bottle Drive with drop-off at Jonny K’s Fresh Produce. If you are saving bottles and cans and are running out of space, email longpointlioness@gmail.com for arrangements to drop off or pick up before May 24th.

The next meeting is Monday, April 14, starting at 5:00 p.m. Dinner starts at 5:30 sharp followed by the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Originally printed in The Good News, April 2025.