The Royston (Royston-Cumberland) Lions are celebrating 35 years of service in the Comox Valley.
Starting in 1983, under the guidance of three men, the club was formed to follow the Lions motto: We Serve.
The group immediately started fundraising through a variety of events including a weekly bingo, wood raffles and garage sales.
The money raised meant the group could begin a few waterfront beautification projects, and support charitable and community needs.
In 1989, two years after Lions International opened its doors to women memberships, the Royston club inducted its first Lady Lion – the second woman to be inducted in the Comox Valley.
One of the early changes to the club was moving its headquarters to Fallen Alders Hall in 1990.
Since its 20th charter, many things have changed.
Without an active club in the Cumberland area, the Royston Lions applied for and received permission from the international office to include Cumberland in its service area, and became the Royston-Cumberland Lions.
The meeting location was moved to the King George Hotel in Cumberland, and started becoming an official part of Cumberland.
When the King George closed, the Lions moved to a temporary location at the Cumberland Hotel, and then found a home at the Masonic Lodge.
They continued supporting projects such as Santa’s Workshop, special needs sewing and Lifeline, but dropped Peace Poster and Project Pride.
The weekly meat bingos are still a major source of income.
“We have continued with our Christmas food hampers, and over the past 10 years we supply an average of 25 families, seniors and special needs individuals with enough food to last at least five weeks,” said Mary Donner. “We look at an approximate value of $400-$450 per hamper.
“Two years ago we started supplying hampers year-round, and are averaging 40 hampers for this time period. The difference is that these hampers are only set two to three weeks duration, and average $75-$150 depending on family size.”
Comox Valley Lions had received a request for an insulin pump for a type one diabetic, and on finding that the individual lived in Cumberland, they asked if the Royston club wanted to take on the project
“[Naturally] We said yes,” said Donner. “With their help, as well as other local groups, we raised the $6,500 to purchase the pump. The recipient now has an expected life span of 15 to 20 years, instead of two to five.”
The club’s “Coins for Kids” program is still going strong, and it participates in the Empire Day Parade each year, collecting donations from local dignitaries, as well as parade onlookers, for the cause.
Walmart also allows the Lions to set up to collect from store customers.
“We have supplied prescription glasses, hearing aids, transportation for out-of-town doctor’s appointments, and have even found time to assist other local organizations with their fundraisers,” said Donner.
“Two years ago we added a new group, so as well as the special needs sewing program, we are helping sponsor a special needs golf program which has really taken off. We had 26 players the first year, and last year we had almost 40. This year we had in excess of 40. Thank you Sunnydale Golf for hosting this program.”
The Cumberland Community Church also supports the hamper program, with an annual Christmas concert that raises food and cash to help with the hampers.
“We are only a small club, but we try to have a large influence on the quality of living for those around us,” said Donner.
For families and those in need in the Royston-Cumberland area, contact Lions Mary or Bob at 250-400-5415 to see if they can help.