Christmas came early for some special families in Timmins.
Members of the Schumacher Lions Club delivered some Christmas cheer, in the form of $150 food vouchers.
In all, the Lions delivered vouchers to 472 deserving families with children on Dec. 16.
It was the culmination of the Stan Fowler Christmas Fund, which saw a record amount of money raised.
“To date, we’re sitting at $93,800,” said Lion treasurer John McCauley, who chairs the Stan Fowler Christmas Fund. “It’s been an overwhelming success. It succeeded all of our expectations.”
While much of the total came via a radiothon held a week earlier, McCauley noted local businesses and industry came through.
“Tim Hortons gave us more than $13,000 (through the Holiday Smile Cookie campaign),” he said. “Glencore gave us $7,500, Newmont Porcupine $5,000, CDSSAB (Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board) $5,000, OPG (Ontario Power Generation) $3,000 and Bell/NorthernTel $3,000, just to name a few.”
Initially, organizers were a little worried about this year’s drive. Due to inflation, club members voted to increase the value of vouchers from $125 to $150. Plus, it was expected the need would be greater this year.
“We were a little bit concerned because of the amount we were giving out,” McCauley said. “And we know the need in the community is growing. Last year we were around 400 (vouchers). “But the city stepped up huge.”
While the amount raised exceeds the cost of the vouchers, it will still be used for the Christmas Fund.
“That will carry over until next year,” he said. “We are still trying to recover from our last few years with the telethon. Although we made lots of money on the telethon, our expenditures were astronomical (due to cutbacks by TV). We had to pay for the production. So, going to the radio has been a godsend. Almost 100 per cent of the proceeds go back to the community and we are able to add a little buffer for next year.”
For McCauley, delivery day is one of the highlights of his year.
“This is my sixth year doing it (chairing the fund),” he said. “Every year it has gone up and up. Hope to continue this next year.
“For me, it’s today, our voucher day. Just seeing the smile on kid’s face and the parent’s face, knowing that we’re going to relieve some stress over Christmas. They’re going to be able to have a turkey or a ham, whatever they chose for a Christmas meal, and a little bit more as well.
“It’s just helping all the needy families in the community.”
An important part of setting up for delivery day is making sure the vouchers end up with the families who need it most.
“We have a process where they need to apply through places like CDSSAB, ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program, the Native Friendship Centre, Wabun Tribal Council, places like that and so on,” McCauley said. “What they’re tasked to do is make sure we’re giving them to the right people, people who need it.
“We do take some requests over the phone and there’s criteria they have to meet. The main thing is families with children, they’re our priority. Once we are able to help those families, if we have extra to help others, we certainly would.”
The fund has a long history in Timmins. It was started by Stan Fowler in 1948, a Lions Club member and local businessman, who spearheaded a campaign to collect $2,800 for Christmas baskets. He was involved directly in the campaign into the 1980s. In 1981, food vouchers replaced baskets.
McCauley said local residents can be proud of the way their community responded to the need this year.
“I would like to thank the people of Timmins, the community from individual to corporate to small business donations, you exceeded our expectations by a country mile,” he said. “We can’t thank you enough.
“Also, to Kinz and Klomp for stepping in the last couple of years and helping us out. And, most importantly, Country 93.1 because without them, there wouldn’t be a radiothon. I’d like to thank Shane Button and his team at Country 93.1 for another job well done.”
