Santa lights the Downieville town Christmas tree behind the gazebo at Gold Rush Park
DOWNIEVILLE — Downieville ushered in the holidays on Friday evening with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree, flanked by Santa and a group of caroling students. The tree is one of the hallmark annual donations of the Downieville Lions Club, which has served Downieville and neighboring communities since 1938. Though the tree lighting marks another successful year of the Lions Club’s generosity, its members have serious worries about its future. From what was once a group of 60, only 15 Downieville Lions Club members remain, and just 6 regularly attend meetings.
Children carol in anticipation of Santa’s arrival and the lighting of the town tree
Besides sponsoring the Christmas tree lighting, the Lions Club donates to and helps organize several events in Downieville year-round, including the 4th of July Fireless Fireworks and hamburger stand, the Fathers Day Fishing Derby, and the Christmastime “Tags for Kids” program. They also contribute two $1,000 scholarships for Downieville School graduates and a yearly $1,500 donation to the Western Sierra Food Bank.
One of the Lions Club’s largest fundraising efforts of the year is the selling of Christmas trees. About 40 were made available this year, with some still for sale at the Downieville School field. Though the club’s permit allowed for up to 100 to be felled, the task of cutting and transporting the trees fell to just three people: Treasurer Karen Livingstone-Campbell, her husband, Chris, and non-member volunteer Chuck Holman.
The Lions Club’s volunteer crisis is not unique – almost all Downieville organizations are struggling for help – but a critical point has been reached. Existing members are challenged to find ways to continue supporting the many annual events by themselves. Karen worries that the 86-year-old club won’t be able to exist much longer without a prompt infusion from a younger generation.
Though joining the Lions Club is an option the group would much appreciate, they are looking for any help they can get, member or not. Anyone can volunteer for an event with no strings attached, whether it’s to help grill burgers on the 4th of July or to cut Christmas trees in December. The club survives on help from the community and benefits the community in return. For more information or to volunteer, email Karen at daddfamily@comcast.net.