Project Smile Niagara are a group of Niagara women who make quilts for children with life threatening diseases. Their beautiful handiwork is shown below, and these quilts are made with love and provided at no cost to children who need a “hug” while they fight their health battle. The Port Dalhousie Lions Club is thrilled to be able to support this important cause with a $500 donation.

Niagara Sexual Assault Centre is a non-profit organization that responds to the needs of survivors of sexual violence and through public education increases understanding and awareness of sexual assault related issues. Unfortunately, their services are critical in Niagara, and the Port Dalhousie Lions Club is happy to be able to provide a $500 donation to support their important programs.

Every year in October, almost 200 men and male identifying allies join together to Walk A Mile In Her Shoes in support of Gillian’s Place. This year, our member Lion Tim once again represented our club in our support, strapping on high heels and walking with the Stiletto Stallions. The Port Dalhousie Lions Club was proud to donate $2,000 to support Gillian’s Place and the important work they do supporting the victims of gender based and intimate partner violence in our community. Overall, Lion Tim’s team was able to raise almost $5,000 for this cause, and Gillian’s Place raised $120,000 through this event. (You might also recognize some of our Spaghetti Night volunteers who walked alongside Lion Tim and Marty Mako at the Pen Centre!)

One of our members brought the needs of Lennon Ferri to the attention of the Port Dalhousie Lions Club. Lennon is a soon-to-be-five-year-old was born with Werdnig-Hoffmann’s spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare form of motor neuron disease. There are four types of SMA and Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, also known as SMA1, is the most severe form of the disorder with muscle weakness evident at birth or within the first few months of life. To help to accommodate Lennon’s needs, her grandmother started a fundraiser to purchase a wheelchair accessible van. The Port Dalhousie Lions Club were thrilled to be able to donate $2,000 to this great cause, and Lennon is now able to get around in her new wheelchair accessible vehicle! You can learn more about Lennon and this initiative at: https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/st-catharines-grandma-raising-awareness-for-grandchild-with-rare-disease/article_0ecfbfc7-bfc3-5d6f-ab70-13c3e318f55c.html

Help A Child Smile works out of the McMaster Children’s Hospital providing support and experiences for children and families who have a child diagnosed with Cancer. As the main children’s cancer destination for our Niagara families, the Port Dalhousie Lions Club is proud to be able to support Help A Child Smile with a $500 donation.

Since 1987, Positive Living Niagara has provided confidential support and advocacy for those living with HIV in Niagara. Their work is critical to ensuring access to the right supports, treatments, and community for those with HIV and AIDS and their families. The Port Dalhousie Lions Club is pleased to be able to provide a $1,000 donation to support the great work that they do.

The Port Dalhousie Lions Club has a long history with youth sports, as the former home of the Lacrosse court that many in the community enjoyed! The St. Catharines CYO Basketball organization continues to provide those opportunities for young people in St. Catharines today. We are proud to help support that work by providing a $500 donation to support the CYO Rebels U13 team in their efforts this season. We are also thrilled that the U13 team has in turn offered to volunteer their time to help the Lions Club in upcoming events as volunteers!

The Looff Carousel in Lakeside Park is one of the most popular attractions in Port Dalhousie with it’s nickel a ride price tag and long history in the park since arriving in the village of Port Dalhousie in 1921. But keeping this piece of history alive requires effort, and the Friends of the Carousel has been maintaining the beautiful carvings since 1999. The Port Dalhousie Lions Club is proud to do our part to help preserve this important history with a donation of $500.

The YWCA in Niagara works across our region to help provide gender equity, emergency shelter, and other services to women, men, and families in need, and works to be a voice for the marginalized in Niagara. The Port Dalhousie Lions Club is happy to provide a donation of $500 to support the important work they do.

The Port Dalhousie Lions Club were happy to be able to provide a $1,000 donation to the Humane Society of Greater Niagara in memory of Jennifer Jackson, daughter of our long-term member and current Secretary Peter Wilson. It was through the support of great people and organizations like Dennis from Garden City Home Hardware who allow us to host regular barbecue events that we are able to support these important Niagara Organizations.