The Portage la Prairie Lions Club is staying busy this summer; cutting grass, collecting food donations, and calling on new members to help preserve its 85-year legacy.
Arishya Aggarwal, who serves on the club’s board of directors, says their free lawn mowing service was launched to support those facing challenges around yard work.
“There’s many people in our community that are struggling with maintenance for their lawns and it just becomes another headache for them,” she says. “The Lions Club thought that this is something that we can easily help and it doesn’t take too much preparation or coordination on our end. We can just go and help and get it done.”
She notes that people using the service include elders, single parents, and those dealing with mental health issues or broken equipment.
“We have helped many people. We've mowed many lawns and the response has just been so full of gratitude and love,” Aggarwal adds. “I think that’s what makes it so rewarding for us Lions, just to be able to connect with our community and be able to build those meaningful relationships and help out where we can.”
She estimates more than 10 to 15 lawns have been cut so far.
Requests can be made through the Lions’ Facebook or Instagram pages. Aggarwal asks that people include a short explanation with their request to help the team prioritize based on urgency.
“We’ve been working on prioritizing the level of need for each and every request,” she notes.
Food drive this Sunday at the Co-op
The Lions Club is also hosting a food drive this Sunday, August 10th, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Portage Homestead Co-op. Donations will support the Salvation Army Food Bank.
Aggarwal says hunger is one of the most pressing issues they aim to tackle.
“I think one of the biggest pillars for the Lions Club, especially in Portage, is to make sure that no one in our community goes hungry,” she remarks. “Hunger is something that our community has no place for.”
Organizers are grateful for any non-perishable donations, but highlight a few high-demand items: peanut butter, cereals, Kraft Dinner, shampoo, and conditioner.
Lions General Meeting open to the public
Looking ahead, the club is inviting the public to attend its upcoming General Meeting on Tuesday, August 12th at 7 p.m. at A Taste of Spice. The meeting is open to anyone interested in learning more or getting involved.
Aggarwal says the club is especially eager to recruit at least one new member before the end of the year to maintain its 85-year charter.
“If we’re able to find one more Lion in Portage… we would be able to keep our 85 years of history, of legacy, of contributions,” she says.
She continues that becoming a member doesn’t require a major time investment.
“There’s no minimum requirement, there’s no minimum time commitment, and there’s no typical profile we’re looking for,” Aggarwal adds. “It’s open to everyone who wants a sense of community and wants to give back into our Portage la Prairie.”
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