Lions Roxanne Oates and Robyn Kenny filling candy bags for the Santa Claus Parade.
By Mark Squibb
The Mount Pearl Lions Club, like any Lions Club, does a lot of good in the community.
But those good deeds can’t be done without volunteers, something the club says it needs more of.
Currently, the club boasts 18 members, about nine of which are active. The low membership makes hosting large events such as the annual Santa Claus Parade and Grandparents Day difficult.
“If we had more Lions, we could make a bigger impact,” said member Roxanne Oates, who holds a number of positions within the group.
The club is busy year-round bettering the community, from collecting garbage in the summer to helping the less fortunate at Christmas, with lots in between, but needs more members to keep things going.
“Mount Pearl has been through a lot the last couple of weeks, and Mount Pearl has kind of been shown in a bad light,” said Oates, referring to the random assaults committed by some youths recently. “I myself, as a Mount Pearl Lion, want the community to know that there’s still a lot of good happening. And there could be more good things happening, but our Lions are stretched thin.”
Oates said being a member may not be as big a time commitment as some might think. The club meets about once a month, and members are not expected to attend every event.
“It can be busy, but we are willing to work with anybody within their time frame,” said Oates. “There are times that I can’t attend events. And nobody is going to hold it against me, and nobody will hold it against you.”
Oates, who joined the Club nearly a decade ago through her husband John, said a Lion’s biggest reward is being able to help others and see firsthand the impact the club can make in the lives of others, sometimes even by something as simple as hosting a seniors bingo.
“I get all warm inside when I know that I made somebody’s day a little bit brighter,” said Oates. “If you want to feel good by making others feel good, be a Lion… If you want to make a difference in your community, give back to your community, be a Lion. We give back.”
The Lions Club, she noted, accepts members regardless of things such as race, gender, or sexual orientation, and while many members of the club hail from Mount Pearl, Oates, who herself recently moved from Mount Pearl to Paradise, said the Club accepts members from outside Mount Pearl as well. She also recommended checking to see if there is an active club in your own town.
Those interested in joining can get in touch with a member or reach out to the club through its Facebook page.
