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Cochrane Lioness Lion Club honours long-time member with donation to Big Hill Lodge

“She was a Lioness Lion in all the ways, for years and years she supported all the different things,” Stone said. “She supported us in every way possible. In our family life, anything that happened. She was a very special person.”
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Cochrane Lioness Lion Club members present euchre and crib boards donated in memory of long-time club member Yvonne Veldhuis to Big Hill Lodge. Submitted Photo

COCHRANE— Quietly working behind the scenes to support the community, the Cochrane Lioness Lion Club has been hard at work looking after the needs of Cochranites.

On Tuesday (April 13) the Cochrane Lioness Club donated euchre and crib boards to Big Hill Lodge to honour the memory of long-time club member Yvonne Veldhuis.

Veldhuis was a long-standing community member who continually worked to help make Cochrane a better place for everyone, said Lioness Lion Club treasurer Eileen Stone.

“She was a Lioness Lion in all the ways, for years and years she supported all the different things,” Stone said. “She supported us in every way possible. In our family life, anything that happened. She was a very special person.”

It was a great experience presenting the donation to Big Hill Lodge as three of Veldhuis’ daughters and her husband Henry attended the event. Henry, a former Lions Club member, recently moved into Big Hill Lodge.

It was important to have the family in attendance as they have been a part of the Lioness Club, Stone said, explaining the club has watched the Veldhuis children grow up.

The euchre and crib boards were exciting to bring the Lodge as they offer a chance for residents to connect over a game and enjoy each other's company. Stone added it will also be fun to learn a new game for first-time players.

The donated game boards include a plaque honouring Veldhuis’ memory.

Stone said she was proud to pay tribute to her friend and it was emotional honouring the long-time Lioness.

“She was just the type of person that touched you,” Stone said.

Veldhuis' work speaks to the legacy of the Lioness Club and the way members have stayed connected and united in the goal of making the community better since its launch in 1978.

The game boards were donated to Big Hill Lodge because Veldhuis worked at the facility and the Lionesses have hosted other events for the seniors at the centre.

At Christmas, the club donated gift bags to every resident and staff members at Big Hill Lodge. The bags served as a special way to remind residents they are still part of the community and have not been forgotten even if health measures prevent in-person interactions.

The Lioness Club has missed some of its annual traditions due to the pandemic, Stone said, citing the Ronald McDonald House as an example. They were unable to donate to the organization this year or participate in the traditional meal donation and magic room donation.

“It’s very different,” Stone said with a sigh.

It has been disappointing, but they are hopeful they will soon be able to get back to it, Stone said.

The Club has been hard at work supporting the community during COVID-19, and while interactions with the public have been limited the group has been providing funds to different organizations.

Standing groups they support include Bow Valley High School, the Cochrane Hospice Society, Bethany Care, the Cochrane Activettes Food Bank and Big Hill Haven.

Unfortunately, they have not been able to host activities in the community, but are happy to provide donations when possible.

The focus over the past year has been helping the community weather the impacts of COVID-19.

“We gave extra money to the Activettes Food Bank this year because we felt people needed it,” Stone said.

The Cochrane Lioness Club hosts Zoom meetings every month as a way to support members who may be feeling isolated. Anyone interested in joining the team can contact the Lioness Club at [email protected].

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