The Mattawa Lions Club is organizing a series of food drives and donation events during Lions Clubs International’s Weeks of Service — Hunger (January 3–11, 2026) to help replenish supplies at the Mattawa and Area Food Bank.
Events will be centred at the Lions Den (175 Brook St). The club plans activities during the week including a Car Bingo fundraiser, school-based collection drives and “fill-the-bus” style collection events at local retailers such as Mattawa IDA and Wright’s Bakery. Specific dates and times for those activities are being confirmed by organizers; readers should contact the Mattawa Lions Club for the schedule.
The Mattawa and Area Food Bank, listed at 450 Hurdman St in the Town of Mattawa business directory, serves the Mattawa area. The effort arrives as local needs remain high: a CTV News report shows roughly one in seven families in the broader Nipissing District face food insecurity. Wayne Reid, president of the Mattawa and Area Food Bank, has previously warned that “our cupboards are thin at the moment” (BayToday, Apr. 15, 2020). Organizers ask residents to donate non-perishable, shelf-stable items commonly requested by food banks — especially higher-protein and ready-to-eat items such as beans, canned tuna and soups.
Volunteers who want to help can contact the Mattawa Lions Club or the Mattawa and Area Food Bank for sign-up information; contact details are available on the Town of Mattawa business directory and the food bank’s website. The nearest chartered Rotary club is in North Bay; any partnership with the Rotary Club of North Bay for specific collection stations is being confirmed with event organizers. For local Lion contacts, the club lists Josee O’Hare and Monique O’Hare among active members involved in community service.
