The Lions CTV Christmas Telethon was a great success raising money to give a Christmas to Northern Ontarian children and their families.
Held In a new venue at Canadore College, the 2014 telethon had many volunteers bustling about. Most of them were wearing yellow and purple vests of the Lions service club.
The Lions and Lionesses have been helping people in need at Christmas with telethon events since 1946.
Mary Flavelle is from the Kearny area. Flavelle says the telethon fund-raising will buy toys for all the kids in the area. “In the Kearney area alone, we build 30 baskets to help families."
Rick Flavelle explained that two districts of ‘lionism’ are here helping at the telethon. The districts include Sturgeon Falls, Mattawa, Restoule, Widdifield, North Bay, Ferris, Bonfield, Powassan, Sundridge, Burks Falls, Trout Creek and Argyle.
One of the telethon hosts, Dean Boulanger, thoroughly enjoys the Christmas telethon calling it “the most fun of the year. The sponsors, the Lion Club members and all of the other volunteers and volunteer entertainers really come together to make it a success."
Vice-Chair of the event, Joe Daniel says “we always provide a turkey or ham within a food basket for the families. Children in the family receive a toy if they are under the age of 16. If they are between the ages of 16 and 18 they will get a gift card. We try to help families as much as we can."
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Chairperson of the telethon, Jeff Campsall, is hoping to top the 45,000 dollars raised last Christmas. "We helped over 400 families with 300 kids last year so it would be nice to do it again."
Other telethons taking place this weekend are in Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, and Sudbury.
Make your pledges to the Lions CTV Christmas Telethon online. www.lionsctvtelethon.ca
