By: Jane Wright
Since it began Friday, Sept. 13, 1974 the Odessa & District Lions Club has been assisting communities locally and abroad. Recently they welcomed the public to help them celebrate the accomplishments they have achieved over the past 50 years of service. They received recognition from MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman, MPP Ric Bresee, Loyalist Mayor James Hegadorn and the Lion’s Chair for Region 11 Nawar Hage.
Congratulations for 50 years of service came from as far away as the Lions Runners from Poland, Germany and the Ukraine who sent a photo from the International President Dr. Patti Hill and the Lions Running Team while in Sydney Australia. In 2022 the runners stopped at Odessa which was named after Odessa in the Crimea in 1952. Collectively five Lions Clubs joined the presentation and were able to raise $1,500 for the Kids of Ukraine war.
Some other accomplishments achieved by the Odessa Lions Club are:
• Organized and ran large snow mobile races at Odessa Fairgrounds
• Supported Sight First, Seeing Eye Dog Programs, Diabetes, Various children summer camps, and Terry Fox Runs
• Donated to L&A County Hospital and sight clinic at KGH
• In 2023 the club organized with Bath and Amherstview Lions Clubs the purchase of a $15,000 Chemo Chair for the KGH Cancer Clinic
• Made frequent donations to Odessa Guides and Scouts
• Organized 5 Bike A Thons with Odessa Public School students
• Donated $10,000 to Odessa Public School for playground equipment improvements
* Yearly provide bursaries to two students at Ernestown Secondary School
* Funded and built the Doug Young Memorial Park in Odessa
• Organized with Loyalist Township and funded $50,000 toward the park at Babcock Mill
• Each year prepare food baskets for over 100 deserving families
• For 40 years organized the Remembrance Day Service with the military at Wilton Cenotaph
• Address food insecurity in Odessa and Kingston: Breakfast Club at Ernestown Secondary, Snack Program at Odessa Public School and the meal program administered by Morningstar Mission, Partners in Mission Food Bank and Lion Hearts and Almost Home.
• Financial support to local youth groups such as Breakers Basketball, Loyalist Minor Hockey, Loyalist Skating Club, Loyalist Minor Soccer
• Supporting the various National and International Lions activities Guide dogs, LCIF Canada BC disaster, District A3 vision screening, Public Speaking LCIF New York Relief.
Over the past 50 years the Odessa Lions Club has been able to donate over $500,000 to many worthy causes and they look forward to continuing this tradition well into the future.