The Sunshine Coast Lions Club of Sechelt is here to serve, and members put that motto into action last week while building a deck for all to enjoy at the new community building in Mission Point Park.
The building used to be a residence and when the District of Sechelt acquired the Mission Point property they realized the building needed repair.
The District got to work revamping the space and soon the Lions Club stepped up to help be a part of that transformation.
"Our motto is 'we serve,' that's why we're here," said club president Len Schollen, while working on the deck with a crew of four Lions. "We see this as a great benefit to the community. This building is going to be used by different groups and people for things like meetings and small weddings."
The club spent a little under $1,500 for the deck project and nine volunteers put in about 80 hours of work to finish it. The cost could have been significantly higher, but lumber was provided by Gibsons Building Supply in Sechelt-.
Beneath the new solid wrap-around deck, the Lions hid a time capsule to mark their effort. Inside is a copy of the front page Coast Reporter article telling of their recently opened senior housing complex in Sechelt, some business cards, a club roster and a note for whoever finds the capsule, but they hope it won't be found for 50 years or more.
"Because we used pressure treated wood, [the deck] shouldn't need any repairs for probably 50 years. We think it will be a long time until anyone finds it," said Lion Robert Allen.
This is just one of many community projects the club will be taking on this year.
The group plans to build a viewing area platform in Mission Point Park as well at the mouth of Chapman Creek. That project would be fully accessible and is expected to cost about $3,500.
The Lions also give funds to support KidSport and the Imagination Library program, which provides monthly books for young readers.
Other smaller projects may come their way this year and there is ongoing fundraising in order to add another complex to their seniors' housing site in Sechelt.
"The Lions club is about helping children, people with disabilities and the elderly," Schollen noted.
The Sechelt club raises their funds though weekly meat draws on Saturdays at Gilligan's Pub in Sechelt, the July 1st pancake breakfast they put on, hot dog and hamburger sales at the drag races (as part of a joint effort with the Gibsons club) and the Christmas tree farm they run each year. They also receive some size of gaming grant annually.
The Sunshine Coast Lions Club of Sechelt is one of 4,682 clubs that run in 206 countries around the world. Lions clubs are non-religious, non-political and accept members of all ages, races and nationalities.
"It's the largest service club organization in the world," Schollen said.
Despite their world-reaching membership and notable achievements, the Sechelt group has just 22 members.
Schollen hopes to recruit more who see the value in serving their community at the club's upcoming open house on March 15 at 7 p.m. at Greencourt Hall on Medusa Street off Ocean Avenue in Sechelt.
To find out more about what the Lions Club is all about, go to www.lionsclubs.org.
