BY SARA KEDDY
Kings County Advertiser/Register
Katie Corbin likes to help her community where she can. When a service club extended its reach into her Grade 11 Central Kings classroom, she signed right up.
“I knew I would because I have a reason: I want to do what I can to help,” she says.
Corbin is the treasurer of the new Kings Leos Club, a youth branch of Lions International being mentored by the Coldbrook & District Lions Club. The Leos were special guests at a Coldbrook dinner meeting April 28 to receive their charter, and congratulations.
“We have high hopes for this club - and confidence,” said Jane Gregory, a Lawrencetown Lion and district advisor for Leos clubs. “I am so proud of Coldbrook for getting a Leos club started – and this is a special club.”
Special in several ways: it’s the only Leos club in the province. It’s also the evolution of volunteer work the Lions have been doing for a few years at Central Kings with students in the life skills program.
“We want to teach them to be people who care about their community,” said Lion Reg House. “This has been instilled in them over this winter while we developed the club – and, boy, it sure feels great to help someone in need.”
Corbin and her classmates held a few early fundraisers: they sold 25 calendars for the CNIB and used their share to make a Frenchies trip, buying baby sleepers for Chrysalis House and Valley Regional Hospital’s maternity ward. They sold Valentines’ Day carnations at school and then bought men’s toiletries and pajamas for Fidelis House. They’ve helped the Lions with the adopt-a-highway litter pick-up. They also filled a basket with cleaning supplies for one of their classmates, as her family moved into a new apartment.
“These kids care – you can see that,” House said.
District Governor and Coldbrook Lion Mark Durnford said he’s pleased with the Leo’s club formation, a reminder to everyone ”we are responsible for what we do and where we do it.
"We want to teach them to be people who care about their community,” Lion Reg House. -
“You are the leaders of tomorrow, and each one of you will learn the skills to complete your projects, and know you’re doing something good. I can not say enough: you are very, very touching individuals with warm hearts and great minds.”
Durnford presented the Leos with their charter, and invited each Coldbrook Lion to shake the new Leos’ hands as they joined Lionism, “something that moves you when you do something good, not just here but around the world.”
Central Kings teacher Jocelyne MacNeil says her life skills students don’t necessarily have the independence their peers do, but the Leos’ programming of life lessons, making connections with the community and “doing something that’s meaningful where they can see the gratification involved, that puts them in a place that some of us take for granted.
“It’s very empowering.”
