The Seekonk Lions Club First Pilgrim Dinner

It was November 20, 2025, in Seekonk, and the members of the Lions Club gathered at American Legion Post 311 for their next scheduled meeting. It was a good turnout for this small but dedicated group. Having 13 members come together near the holidays is truly special.

I looked around at my fellow members — Russ, Bob R, Kenny, Bob D, John, George, Keith, Gary, Dana, Ted, John W, George — and felt a deep sense of pride. Each of them had given their time, energy, and whatever else they had to make this meeting productive, planning our next steps for the year ahead.

Sandy, the best bartender you could ask for that evening, took care of our adult beverages and snacks before we headed upstairs for the dinner. I did my best to gently nudge a few members along, as they were caught up in jovial conversations only a Seekonk Lion could have.

After our traditional Lions meeting welcome, the group settled down to a feast from Rosa’s Tavern in East Providence. This is a new thing I’m trying—alternating our meetings between the Legion and Ledgemont Country Club, with local cuisine in mind at the Legion. Our previous meeting featured BBB Barbecue from Seekonk—that was truly swell!

But this night, we had prime rib—cooked to perfection with Portuguese seasonings the members had never tasted before. Everyone was quietly digging in, savoring the delicious entrée. The first words of admiration were “OMG!”

Turning to our agenda, we discussed fundraising and the distribution of funds to some of our local worthy causes. This year, donations to our main Lions charity, MLERF (Mass Lions Eye and Ear Research Foundation), raised a remarkable $58,000— a real testament to our community’s generosity.

We’re working on new fundraising efforts, especially since some of our well-known initiatives had to be put on hold. Our “Taste of the Town” event in April on Patriots Day was a great success, and we’re confident it will be even better next year. We’re also exploring new ideas, like a car show—so stay tuned!
During the discussion, George reflected on the busy days of planning food drives, gift distributions, and community outreach. He remembered the families we helped and emphasized the importance of getting back to those meaningful activities.

He also drew a parallel to the Pilgrims: “We need to be like the Pilgrims,” he said, “who started with nothing but their faith and determination, and built a community through hard work and giving.” Yes indeed!
This evening, the club voted to make donations to Doorways Food Pantry and the American Legion Post 311. There was also discussion about launching a project to support Doorways as they reach over 20 years at the same location in the old North School. Stay tuned again.

As we look ahead to 2026, I want to remind everyone that if you feel moved to help financially, donations are always welcome—whether by check or cash, given directly to a Seekonk Lion or sending to our PO Box. We need a push in the coming year to meet our goals and continue serving the Seekonk community.

So, what is this “Pilgrim Dinner”? It’s going to be a new tradition for the Lions Club, inspired by the spirit of Thanksgiving and the season of giving. With food drives, food banks, turkey and prime rib dinners, and time spent with family—all of this comes together to create our first Seekonk Lions Pilgrim Dinner.

Thank you for all for your time, attention and support this year. We look forward to serving Seekonk in the new year. Wishing you a joyful holiday season.

Paul Buckley - President
Seekonk Lions Club P.O. Box 326 Seekonk, MA 02771
Seekonk Lions Charitable Trust Inc. - About Us