The Port Dover Lions Club is once again taking on the Month of May Food Drive as a major club project, supporting the Port Dover Lifeline Food Bank and aiming to make 2025 another record-breaking year.
With a fundraising goal of $45,000, the Lions are calling on the community to dig deep and help those in need, as demand for food bank services continues to rise. In the past 12 months alone, the Port Dover Lifeline Food Bank has served more than 1,500 clients, and usage by new clients has spiked 31% since September 2024.
The campaign will officially launch on Saturday, May 3, at 11:30 a.m. in the Roulstons Pharmacy parking lot at the corner of Main Street and Chapman Street East. Throughout May, the Lions will be hosting a series of community engagement events to collect both non-perishable food and financial donations.
Each Saturday and Sunday, the Lions will park their firetruck at Roulstons Pharmacy, collecting donations by cash, tap, or non-perishable food items. Additional donation boxes for non-perishable food will be available at the Port Dover Community Centre, No Frills, and the Lions Silver Lake Market.
For those preferring to donate financially, there are plenty of options:
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Cash or cheque donations can be dropped off at Port Dover Scotiabank or several local businesses including Dover Dairy Bar, Stoney’s Home Hardware, Lakeside Savings, and even the Beer Store and LCBO.
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Donations can also be made online at www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/port-dover-and-area-life-line-food-bank, with tax receipts available.
A bottle drive is also scheduled for Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lions Silver Lake Market upper parking lot. Residents are encouraged to save their long weekend empties and bring them out in support of the cause.
The Lions will further support the campaign with gate collections at their Show & Shine Car Show events on Monday, May 19 and May 26.
The Port Dover Lions, a 65-member strong organization, have been serving the community since 1938. With the community’s help, they hope to once again deliver vital support to the food bank and ensure no one in Port Dover goes hungry.