Activity Bags For Kids With Cancer

Feb 26, 2025

Members from Lions Clubs from across the region gathered in the utility room at the Storrington Lions Hall last Thursday (February 20) to put together activity bags that will be presented to young, and older children who are undergoing cancer treatment at the Cancer Care Centre, at Kingston General Hospital.

The bags include a variety of donated items, from toys to hand-knitted hats and comforters, and more. This first assembly bee has taken months to organise. The Storrington Lions got the project started, after hearing about other regions where the project is well es tablished. Marie Wilkins, the lead organiser from Storrington, said that different area Lions Clubs have stepped forward to take on gathering, or making, different items for the bags.

At the assembly bee, one or two members from clubs in the Kingston area were on hand to help out, including Doreen Morey from the Verona Lions, and Mark Segsworth from the Sydenham Lions. “We have received support from many clubs in the Kingston area. Kingston, Lake shore-West, Newburgh-Camden, Bath, and Pittsburgh all have contributed, and we have had help from Sally Blasko from L&A Mutual, South Frontenac Township and Trousdale’s,” she said. The people on hand to put the baskets together worked quickly and enthusiastically putting the finishing touches on some items, and making sure the donated bags were set up to carry all the goodies.

The bags included donated gift cards for the parents. The items in the bags varied based on the age of the recipients, and the Lions worked to get them all together and ready for delivery. Although this was a first run through, it seemed to run smoothly, and now that all the preliminary organising is done, and a first set of bags has been assembled and delivered, the plan is to make this an ongo ing project. “It’s nice to do something together like this,” said Marie Wilkins, “it puts less of a burden on one club and offers an oppor tunity for us all to get together, which is al ways good. For more information, and to get involved with the Activity Bags or the Lions, contact your local club.