Service clubs in Black Diamond and Turner Valley are being hit hard as fundraising has become almost futile amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Foothills Lions Club member Barry Crane said restrictions of mass gatherings will have a detrimental impact on fundraising if they’re not lifted soon, resulting in the service club giving less back to local communities.
“Our ability to give back to the community is tied to our ability to access the community through fundraising initiatives,” he said. “All of those avenues at this point are at a standstill. It’s very concerning for our club.”
Crane said the 38-member club typically contributes around $60,000 to local initiatives each year, but, with the potential for community events to be cancelled this spring and summer, that number could drop drastically.
In recent years, the club has supported the construction of a basketball court at Turner Valley School, Turner Valley's Family New Year's Eve Party, Black Diamond Light Up and the construction of a spray park.
“We’re really going to have to assess our priorities and look at our reserves coming into the next year,” he said.
The majority of money raised by the Foothills Lions Club comes from the Bob Lochhead Memorial Park campground in Black Diamond, which has been closed for the season, said Crane.
“Ninety per cent of our ability to service the community comes through our campground.”
Crane said another important fundraiser for the club is its annual Duck Derby, which takes place during Diamond Valley Discovery Days in early June. Money raised from the event supports local schools, he said.
Turner Valley Town council is scheduled to decide whether or not to host the event during its April 20 council meeting, said Crane, also Turner Valley’s mayor. The club is also waiting for word on whether or not golf courses will remain open before deciding if the Foothills Lions Club June golf tournament will go ahead.
Also struggling amidst the COVID-19 pandemic is the Royal Canadian Legion in Turner Valley, which closed its doors last month except to offer takeout from its kitchen Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to first vice-president Linda Macaulay.
“Most of the legions have shut down, period,” she said. “We’ve received some support from Command in Ottawa, but there just isn’t enough money to go around for the number of legions there are. That’s why I figured we have to take care of ourselves.”
Macaulay said the lunch and supper take-out three days a week helps pay the facility’s bills. She said the Legion’s power bill is about $600 a month and the phone and Internet around $300.
“Our heads are above water and I give credit to our cooks,” she said. “This is the only way we can get some revenue in. It’s less revenue, but enough is coming in that we’re able to pay our bills.”
Although the Town of Turner Valley is offering property owners a deferral on their utility bill payments over the next few months, Macaulay said it’s not an option.
“The Legion can’t afford to defer all of our utility payments because we still have to pay them,” she said. “I don’t know if we can make it past the end of July because of the amount of bills. At some point we will run out of money and I don’t know what we’ll do.”
To help pay its bills, Macaulay said the Legion cashed in a GIC and is using some of its casino funds.
While its doors are temporarily closed, the Legion is undergoing renovation work to its bar, using money from a grant it received earlier this year. Macaulay said the renovations were to take place this summer when the Legion is typically closed from July 15 to Sept. 1, but after having to close its doors last month it was decided to start the work early with hopes of opening this summer.
As for the demand for the Legion’s take-out and pick-up service, Macaulay said business is steady.
“Thursday night is wing night and the last three weeks we sold out,” she said. “We doubled the orders the last two weeks just to meet the demand.”
Anyone wishing to order meals at the Legion can call 403-933-4564.
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