Men’s Shed Toy Project
Men's Shed and Lions Club Unite Together!
We’ve got some incredible news to share that has gone VIRAL! The Arnprior-McNab-Braeside Men’s Shed and Arnprior Lions Club have joined forces for a remarkable cause. Let us tell you the heartwarming story that brought these two clubs together.
It all started when a member of the Men’s Shed, Andy Tamas, heard about the devastating wildfires in Nova Scotia. He reached out to a former member, Denis St. Pierre, who had recently moved to Nova Scotia. Denis shared the heartbreaking news that his daughter’s home had burned down in the fires, and he was looking to replace his granddaughter’s lost rocking horse.
That’s when Andy came up with an amazing idea! He began building wooden toys and shipped them to Denis’ granddaughters. The joy and gratitude expressed by the family sparked something within Andy. He realized that many other families affected by the wildfires could benefit from these handmade toys. The only challenge was the shipping costs.
So, the Men’s Shed volunteers sought the support of our beloved Arnprior Lions Club, and they eagerly jumped in to help. By the end of June, the Men’s Shed had produced dozens of toys ready to be shipped to Nova Scotia. But the collaboration didn’t stop there!
The fantastic news spread like wildfire, reaching Men’s Sheds across Canada. Men’s Sheds Canada, the national organization, recognized the incredible impact this initiative could have and officially endorsed it! They encouraged other Men’s Sheds to join the cause, and the response has been overwhelming.
Tamas said Men’s Sheds Canada was happy to take on the initiative, so he enlisted men from across the country, from Arnprior to Squamish, B.C. One group even donated 50 locomotive toys sets to kids in need. The outpouring of support and solidarity has been truly inspiring!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, including the dedicated members of the Men’s Shed, the Squamish Men’s Shed, Men’s Sheds Canada, and the St. Margarets Bay Toy Library. Together, we are making a positive impact in the lives of children affected by the wildfires.
If you want to learn more about the Men’s Shed Toy Drive and the ongoing efforts, check out the Men’s Shed Facebook page article https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068979881733. Let’s spread the word and continue to support this wonderful cause!
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