Every fall season, Carberry potato grower, Mark Keller, donates thousands of pounds of potatoes to the Lions Clubs of Brandon to raise money for the numerous initiatives that the Lions Clubs support.
Wheat City Lions Club member, Brian McVicar, says the annual potato sale has been going on for decades usually at the end of September. "This year we had to postpone it to October 5th because of the heavy rains around Carberry a few weeks ago."
Mark Keller has been gifting his Russett potatoes to the Lions Club for the annual fundraiser for many years.
"It's a wonderful donation from Mark," says McVicar, "and he's one of those people who likes to contribute to the community year after year and you never hear about it. So, it's a wonderful thing that he's done, not just this year but for as long as I've been a member of this Lions Club. It's pretty outstanding."
The annual sale takes place on 18th street North, across from Kelleher Ford, and up until this past spring the quonset on site facilitated the cleaning, bagging and housing of the 50-pound bags of potatoes. The Lions Club would often partner with the Brandon Correctional Centre in prepping for the sale.
"So, how it's been done is we've had the inmates from the Brandon Correctional Centre come out and help us at the quonset," explains McVicar, "but since that's been torn down, now we just dumped the potatoes at the Correctional Centre's grounds. So, they'll help us bag them there."
"That really helps out our aging Lions Club because we're just not able to do it like we used to," he adds. "I think the average age of our Lions Club is 75 years old, so the Correctional Centre has been a tremendous help to do this kind of strenuous help for us."
"It's worked out for everybody. With their help we're able to continue the sale and raise money, and they're able to participate in their community by giving back as well."
The potato sale brings in between $5,000-$6,000 each year, but this is just one of many fundraisers for the Lions Clubs of Brandon.
"We know this a very valuable community service as we have many return customers," he adds. "Lions continue to be an integral part of our Brandon and Westman communities. Potatoes sales is one of many fund-raising projects which helps us donate tens of thousands of dollars to dozens of organizations every year."
One of the most compassionate gifts the Brandon Lions Clubs gives to their own Westman community is to provide a day at the fair for those with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities and their families and caretakers are invited to spend an afternoon at the Brandon Fair, with access to all the rides but without the overwhelming stress of huge crowds of people.
Please listen to more with Brian McVicar as he shares more on this wonderful gift to their community.
The Annual Lions Club Potato Sale takes place on Saturday October 5, starting at 9:00 am at 18th Street North across from Kelleher Ford.