She had to be talked into it.
But from the moment Patricia Wilson did it, she was hooked.
“I absolutely love it,” she told the Thorold News. “I really didn’t want to do it.”
After her husband John convinced her to join the Thorold Lions Club, she stated, “I never had so much fun. I have a blast.”
John joined in 2011, having volunteered for years as a Thorold firefighter.
In his first year as a Lion, “The district governor sponsored a young girl to go to disability camp,” he recalled, adding that she had cerebral palsy and couldn't hear.
When the girl came back to a Lions meeting and her dad helped her describe her life-changing experience at camp, “There wasn’t a dry eye in the place,” said John. “I thought, if the Lions can make that much of an impact on one person,” for him, there was no turning back.
“We’re very active for a small group,” he said. “We’re one of the smallest clubs in Canada.”
With a club of just seven members, it's a powerhouse of good deeds.
“We don’t have to worry about fundraising because we don’t have a hall” to support.
This enables the dynamic club to focus on fighting poverty and environmental issues, as well as helping pediatric cancer and diabetes patients, and raising money to send kids with special needs to various camps.
The Lions are known around the globe for helping blind people, and the Niagara clubs have purchased eye care microscopes for the Welland Hospital. They’ve repaired, packed and shipped 150,000 pairs of eyeglasses to third-world countries.
Thanks to the Thorold Lions’ three bike stations, cyclists from near and far can fix a flat or do minor repairs to their bicycles at the Lock 7 Tourist Information Centre, the Allanburg Bridge, and the Port Robinson Ferry station.
They also help local youth by sponsoring bursaries for Thorold Secondary School students, Thorold Minor Baseball, and the Teen Zone for young cancer patients at McMaster Hospital.
Each year, they present “Proud Canadian” certificates to Grade 1 students at all of Thorold’s elementary schools; assist with Thorold Library programs, plant trees at Lakeview Cemetery and Mel Swart Lake Gibson Park, and clean local roads and trails.
For five years, they’ve offered free Breakfast with Santa events for Thorold families, ensuring each child who attends receives a Christmas present; and for six years, they’ve sold pumpkins in October, with all proceeds donated to Thorold Community Care.
Each summer (except this year, due to Covid-19), you’ll find them handing out free water to spectators during weekly Thorold Reed Band concerts, and they’ve collected funds to help hurricane victims along the Thorold Santa Claus Parade route.
For four years, they’ve provided hot meal trays annually for the Salvation Army Food Truck, which makes biweekly visits to the Pine Street Plaza.
Among their current projects is transforming fleece fabric into blankets, which they then give to seniors, or the homeless; to anyone who needs warmth or comfort.
“A little girl came and helped us make them and gave one to her uncle, who’s a paramedic,” said John.
There’s no sewing or skill required, and everyone's welcome to tie simple fringe knots on the fabric to make blankets.
The mighty Thorold Lions are “always looking for members,” said Patricia, “or even someone who wants to volunteer at one (or more) events.”
Patricia’s a special needs transit driver, while John works part-time doing building maintenance at a local golf club. The Wilsons have two children, two grandchildren, and enjoy helping the community as a couple.
According to John, “If you become a Lion, you'll see that ‘L’ (Lions’ logo on a stranger’s clothing) and you’ll have a friend, no matter where you go.”
For more information, or to volunteer, contact the Wilsons through www.thoroldlions.ca or through Facebook.
