Volunteers make the world go round, says Lions president

By Mark Squibb\April 14, 2023

Every where you look in the Goulds, it seems that Lion’s Club members have proudly left their mark.

That’s what Dr. Jeff Marshall, current club president, noticed when he moved to the Goulds in 2010.

“I saw what they were doing in the community, and I wanted to be a part of it,” said Marshall, who joined the club in 2011.

The club’s main fundraiser is the annual Drive-in Bingo at Bidgood’s Plaza, which kicks off in May and runs until September, but members are busy helping others and raising funds through other means throughout the year.

Recently the Club has undertaken a 50/50 ticket fundraiser held in conjunction with Bidgood’s Supermarket. Funds collected monthly are donated to local community causes. Folks can purchase their game numbers at Bidgoods.

And while members are busy focusing on how they can help others in the community, Marshall said volunteering has its own rewards.

“Knowing that you’re contributing to the betterment of your community is a nice feeling,” said Marshall. “Volunteers make the world go ‘round…. I work in healthcare as a chiropractor, and so one of the ways I look at it is that there’s been a lot of research done into what contributes to community health or the health of a group of people or an individual, and one of the big things, which people might not think of at first, is a sense of community. Social connections are a massive predictor of positive health outcomes. And the reality is that volunteer groups are a huge part of that.”

Currently the club boasts around 60 members, and anyone interested in becoming a Lion can contact the club through social media or Marshall at drjeffmarshall@gmail.com.

“We are always welcoming new members,” said Marshall. “We are very fortunate in the Goulds to have an active membership of all age groups. We’re actually inducting four new members at our charter night next weekend. So, we’re a thriving club, and the community certainly benefits from it, and we all benefit from it too.” The Club has been active since the late seventies.