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‘Canada is becoming a third world country,’ says volunteer
Published Dec 23, 2024 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 2 minute read
John McCauley, chair of the Stan Fowler Christmas Fund run by the Schumacher Lions Club, said local demand for the $150 annual Christmas vouchers has doubled over the last five years. This year, the Lions partnered with a private citizen, Daniel Spiegelman, to deliver hundreds of dollars-worth of food boxes to 48 of the neediest families. He is seen at Gardewine Transport on Monday, Dec. 23, which donated their loading dock for the initiative. NICOLE STOFFMAN/THE DAILY PRESSArticle content
More families than ever need help feeding themselves this Christmas in Timmins.
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On Saturday, the Schumacher Lions Club set a record for the $150 food vouchers they give out every year through the Stan Fowler Christmas Fund: 503 vouchers up from 450 last year.
On Saturday, Dec. 21, about thirty volunteers gathered at the Lions Den and then fanned out to Connaught, Porcupine, South Porcupine, and Timmins to distribute the vouchers.
“Canada is becoming a third world country,” said John McCauley, the chair of the fund.
McCauley blames high taxes for the growing need in Timmins, and the failure of public assistance, including pensions, to keep up with the cost of living.
“People are working two or three jobs, trying to make ends meet. That’s not how Canada was built,” McCauley said, adding demand for Christmas vouchers has doubled in the last five years.
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The Stan Fowler Christmas Fund was established in the late forties by Fowler, a fire fighter.
“I actually ran out this year, for the first time ever. If I didn’t have to give one voucher out, I would be the happiest guy in the world,” McCauley said.
Lion Mike Charette, wearing the yellow vest, and Stan Fowler Christmas Fund Chair John McCauley, centre, go over grocery voucher delivery procedures at the Schumacher Lions Club clubhouse in the basement of the McIntyre Community Centre on Saturday, Dec. 21. Volunteers with the Schumacher Lions Club delivered 503 $150 vouchers to local families thanks to over $100K raised through the Stan Fowler Christmas Fund. WAYNE SNIDER/SCHUMACHER LIONS CLUB
He was speaking to The Daily Press from Gardewine Transport on Monday, Dec. 23, where he was waiting for the a large food delivery of $500 worth of food for each of 24 qualifying families and another $75 worth of produce each for another 24 qualifying families.
The Schumacher Lions Club has partnered with a private citizen, Daniel Spiegelman, who delivers produce and groceries to Pick of the Crop, and also donates food boxes in New Liskeard, Kirkland Lake and Englehart.
“What we’re trying to do is to move this produce box into the social welfare system,” Spiegelman said, after unloading at Gardewine Transport, a freight company in Timmins that donated the loading dock space.
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The Lions were a natural partner because Spiegelman had heard about the Stan Fowler Fund and was looking to expand his reach into Timmins.
The Lions determine who receives their food vouchers by referral from their partner organizations: Cochrane District Services Board, North East Ontario Child and Family Services, Native Friendship Centre and Wabun Tribal Council, and others.
The Schumacher Lions have expanded into helping seniors through their Christmas Voucher program over the last few years. They helped 75 seniors this year.
To fill out the application for the Stan Fowler Christmas Fund grocery voucher, and to be considered for other programs, such as the Spiegelman initiative for the neediest families, McCauley recommends contacting a local social service agency.
“Canada as a whole —we need to do something. I do not see things sustaining the way things are going now. It really has me worried for my kids, especially my grandkids, the mess that we’re leaving them,” McCauley said.
Volunteers with the Schumacher Lions Club delivered 503 grocery vouchers to local families on Saturday. Each voucher is for $150. Here, Stan Fowler Christmas Fund Chair John McCauley provides instructions on the use of door hangers to volunteers, which are used if voucher applicates aren’t home. WAYNE SNIDER/THE DAILY PRESS
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