District of Muskoka - 2020 Community Service Recognition  

The Baxter Ward Lions are one of many service groups being recognized with District of Muskoka - 2020 Community Service Recognition !! 

In February 2020, a group of 28 local residents started a new Lions club and joined 1.4 million Lions across the globe to step up and serve our communities.  Covid-19 quickly changed the way we could serve, but we were needed more than ever!

Our first urgent need was to help our residents with food security.  The local Food Bank, typically staffed by the District of Muskoka, could not send employees to service the food bank clients.  The Baxter Ward Lions Club quickly took over the task of shopping, preparing food hampers and distribution of the hampers to the Food Bank Clients. Our volunteers helped many households and made many friends during the 8 months of servicing our Food Bank.

Our motivated volunteers held bottle drives, calendar sales and Christmas plant sales to raise money for our projects.  We raised more than $10,000 and 100% of the money raised goes back to our community. This year our club was able to support gifts to impoverished seniors in a lock-down facility, neighbours needing a hand-up due to an accident, home fire or difficult circumstances. We were able to donate to wonderful causes such as Hospice Simcoe, Youth in Lions, Halloween treats, drive through parade to meet Santa, and added special gifts to the children and seniors receiving Christmas hampers.

It has been quite a year for the new Lions Club.  We will continue to serve our community in years to come making our community a little better, showing that kindness matters.