Bethesda’s vision is to create an inclusive community of supports and services that inspire, encourage, and empower children, youth and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, and their families, to live their best lives. On Friday, Lion Andre was able to stop by to drop off a donation of $1,000 for the Bethesda Foundation to help them in their work toward that vision this holiday season! Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support of the Port Dalhousie Lions Club. By attending our events like this week’s spaghetti night you enable us to make these contributions to our community and make a difference!

From their home base on Gale Crescent, Westview Centre For Women fosters a non-judgmental environment that accepts women exactly the way they are; it is a space to meet friends from the past and make new friends for the future. Today, Lion Jesse was able to stop by to drop off a donation of $1,000 from the Port Dalhousie Lions Club to Executive Director Jane LaVacca to help this great organization to continue to provide this vital service here in St. Catharines. Thank you to all of our amazing supporters that come out to our events. It is your support that makes these types of donations and support possible!

Gillian’s Place provides critical supports to women and children who are the victims of gender based violence in St. Catharines including emergency secured shelter, legal supports, counselling, outreach, and second stage housing. This critical support is a key enabler for women to escape situations where they are at risk and restart their life through the supports of this incredible organization. Lion Tim stopped by today to drop off a $1,000 donation to Graeme from the Port Dalhousie Lions Club to help Gillian’s Place continue the great work that they do.

Lions Camp Dorset is a unique resort that offers a vacation opportunity for dialysis patients and their families. Recently, friends of the club were lucky enough to be able to enjoy the experience, and they could not say enough great things about the great work that Camp Dorset does to enable a camp experience for those that require ongoing care. This wekend, Lion Dennis was able to attend the fundraiser for Camp Dorset put at the Port Dover Lions Club where he was able to deliver the Port Dalhousie Lions Club donation of $1,000 for this important camp! For more information on Camp Dorset please visit: https://www.lionscampdorset.com/

Lion Dave stopped by to see Adam at Niagara Children’s Centre to bring them a $1,000 cheque to support the Volt Hockey Tournament that is running this weekend at Canada Games Park at Brock University! You can help support too by stopping by this Saturday November 8 to watch teams from across Ontario competing in the inaugural event. Watch players of all abilities compete in VOLT Hockey — an exciting, adaptive version of hockey played in electric-powered chairs. Admission is FREE, so bring your friends and family and cheer on the hometown Niagara Stingrays to victory!

Too often today in our community, kids are going to school hungry. There is no way for kids to be able to learn properly when they haven’t had a proper meal, so it is critical that there are programs to help them. At Lockview School, there is a food program in place to make sure that kids who need it can access snacks, and healthy food so they don’t have to learn while they are starving. The Port Dalhousie Lions Club is proud to have been able to provide a donation of $2,000 to support this important program at Lockview School. Thanks to Lions Leonard and Brad for delivering this important donation!

Unfortunately too often today children in St. Catharines are going to school without food. They are trying to learn on an empty stomach which is limiting the potential of so many bright young minds. Every year, the Port Dalhousie Lions Club has made significant contributions to local schools to help address food insecurity for children in our city. This year, we have made a donation of $4,000 to St. Alfred School to help them fund programs to feed children in need. Unfortunately St. Alfred has seen a surge in demand for food and volunteer help in their area, and the Lions are proud to be able to provide both a meaningful monetary donation as well as connecting our members with opportunities to volunteer and help out at St. Alfred School.

Hospice Niagara has provided much needed supports for so many in our Region, including recently providing care for our own Lion Harris Cheese prior to his passing. Harris’ widow Rosemary Cheese will be walking this year in the annual Hike for Hospice Niagara to raise money for this important organization, and the Port Dalhousie Lions Club are proud to sponsor her walk with a donation of $1,000 in honour of Harris’ and his contributions to our club and Lionism during his life. If you would like to support Rosemary and this important cause, please consider sponsoring her at: https://hospiceniagara.akaraisin.com/ui/hike2025/p/968fecedd0644302ad2b2c168ff3208b

Willow Arts Community provides low-barrier peer-to-peer arts education, and fosters safe spaces for creative exploration and connections for people with living experience of mental illness or substance use in Niagara. They have been responsible for some incredible murals throughout the city including the new mural along the construction wall opposite the old GM lands on Ontario Street. In bringing beauty to our community, Willow Arts also enables those living with mental illness or recovering from substance abuse a creative channel to express themselves and their stories through art. Every year, in conjunction with Brock University and the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, they host a group exhibition of this moving artwork called “unscene”. Watch for next year’s exhibition in late May and early June. You can learn more about the Willow Arts Community at: https://thewillowcommunity.com/ The Port Dalhousie Lions are proud to have been able to donate $1,000 to this incredible organization so they can continue their great work supporting those in need in St. Catharines.

As a result of our BBQ at the Kids Ultimate Challenge, The Port Dalhousie Lions Club was able to raise and donate $2,000 to benefit supporting children’s health through the Niagara Health Foundation!