Just like families, it seems communities have their own special Christmas traditions. In Timmins, the Stan Fowler Christmas Fund has been helping families since the 1940s. This year, a record was set for fundraising — $105,354.26 through a radiothon.
Lion John McCauley is in his sixth year of chairing the Stan Fowler Christmas Fund. He explained the event’s history and how it came to be administered by the Schumacher Lions Club.
“Stan Fowler was a fireman in Schumacher,” he said. “He started the fund in 1947 to help young families with children.
“As the years went on, it grew and grew. So, he went to the local Lions Clubs.”
At one time there were three Lions Clubs in the Porcupine Camp (Schumacher, South Porcupine and Timmins). They all pitched in at Christmas. “For the last 20 years or so, the Schumacher Lions have taken on the responsibility of the Stan Fowler,” he said. Throughout the decades, local media has played a big role in getting the word out to raise funds to help financially challenged families with children at Christmas.
“It started as a radiothon when he first went to major fundraising,” McCauley said. “Then it became a telethon. For the last five years, it has been back to a radiothon and it’s been growing every year since.” Radio station Country 93.1 generously donates air and staff time for the 12-hour event, which is broadcast from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
When the fund first started, food baskets were delivered to families. Today, $150 food vouchers are distributed.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the growing need for help, especially at Christmas.