Jim Kenney, left, representing the Westport Food Bank accepts a donation from Westport Lions Chantal Blair and David Lowery. Photo credit: Bob Reddick
Westport Lions Roar
By Lion Bob Reddick
Last Wednesday, I had a feel-good encounter. Two young men rode their bikes past the sign at the Lions Community Garden. One was probably 8 to 10 years old, and the other boy looked to be 14 or 15. They turned around, the younger boy dropped his bicycle and walked towards me as I was picking vegetables for the Westport Food Bank. “What is a Lion Club?” he inquired. Well, I said, “It is a group of volunteers that want to make Westport and the surrounding area better. Our motto is “We serve. We try to serve the area.”
What struck me about this young man was his politeness and his ability to listen so intently to what I had to say.
“What do you do?” he asked. I told him our big three service projects were the Reuse and Recycle Centre, where we take donations from the public and sell them to keep them from a landfill site. Then, from the money we make, we donate back to worthy organizations in the community. Our second service is that we operate two vans to transport people to medical appointments who don’t have transportation. The club’s third major service is that we own and maintain a beach just up the road. I told him some other things the club does that I thought might interest a ten-year-old, like organizing the Santa Claus Parade and supporting ball teams. “You are a bit young now,” I told him. “But perhaps in a few years you could join a Lions Club.” He nodded in agreement.
He thanked me for the information, hopped back on his bike, took a couple of strokes on the pedals and then circled back. “Sorry to bother you again, but where is the beach?” he asked. I gave him directions and off they went. He thanked me again.
After he left, I thought what a nice, polite, young man. Answering his questions made me feel good.
Another organization that provides a valuable service for the community is the Westport Food Bank. Last Thursday, it celebrated 20 years of serving the community. Westport owes a big thank you to all the volunteers that have tirelessly donated their time over the years to this essential service. Also, thank you to the people who donate food or money to the food bank. Let’s hope this generosity continues.