Club News - March 2021

The Almaguin Highland Lions Club sponsored a snowman contest in Ontario to support local business and encourage families to get outside and have some winter fun. Families were asked to build a snowman and post a picture of it on the club’s Facebook page. Five winners based on the number of Facebook “likes” they received, got gift certificates to local businesses.

The Lions Club of Pawtucket, Inc., in Rhode Island mailed 54 pandemic relief checks to targeted Pawtucket families. Checks ranging from US$500 to US$530 were made possible by a grant from the Pawtucket Lions Memorial Foundation, Inc., the nonprofit charitable arm of the club. The Lions were assisted in efforts to identify families in need by area social, religious, and governmental agencies in hopes that the funds will make a positive impact on the recipients’ lives.

The Portage Lions in Michigan collected items for “Bags of Love,” a community project benefitting children whose lives have been disrupted through crises. A Bag of Love serves as a security blank but also provides the children with age-appropriate items such as clothing, toiletries, and toys that they can call their own.

The Fonthill Lions Club in Ontario launched their Drive-Thru Meals program, starting with “Breakfast with a Side of Santa,” in late November. This inaugural drive-through was a pilot event, and more than 165 breakfasts were served by members of the Fonthill Lions and Lioness clubs. Their second meal was a chicken dinner in mid-January.

In New Jersey, the Hackensack Lions led by their club Vice President Leo Battaglia delivered a second batch of restaurant gift cards to St. Anthony of Padua Church in Hackensack to provide food assistance to those who are struggling in the economy.

The Dryden Trillium Lions Club in Ontario wrapped up their Plastic Bag Challenge, challenging area schools to collect plastic bags. St. Joseph’s School took the top spot with 18,650 bags. Overall, roughly 50,780 plastic bags were collected and the Lions thanked all those who helped keep the plastic out of the landfill.

The Hebron Lions in Connecticut decided that 2020 would end as a year of creativity and evolution as clubs like theirs tried to find new ways to serve. Working with two Connecticut Jeep social groups, they planned their first Deck the Jeeps event. Competitors from around the state decorated their jeeps, flatbeds, military vehicles, and trucks with lights, Christmas trees, and much more to raise money for gifts for children spending the holidays at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. More than 100 vehicles were in the competition, and 500-plus paid admission as drive-through spectators, raising more than US$6,000 for the children.

In Maryland, the Takoma Park Lions have helped their community for 90 years with winter coat drives, hot meals, and more, but Lion Jim Jarboe wanted to spread the word about Covid-19 safety. He passed his home-bound days making more than 120 doodles. Also a member of the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department, Jarboe’s doodles of funny characters help spread public safety messages to children and adults, and have appeared in club and community publications. Lions can reach out to Jarboe at jejarboe@aol.com.

The Ashtabula Lions Club in Ohio delivered pastries to first responders, including the Ashtabula Township Fire Department, to thank them for their hard work and dedication throughout the pandemic.

The Chester Lions Club in New Jersey continued successful blood drives in cooperation with New Jersey Blood Services and the club continues to fund efforts to support their community through numerous organizations like the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) who provide services for children who have been abused and neglected, removed from their homes, and placed in foster care.

In 1954, in a small rural town in Ontario, 50 men were given a charter for the Ilderton and District Lions Club. After 66 years, one of these members is still active, and the club, until three years ago, never had a repeating president. The Lions recently completed a five-year project in partnership with the local school board to upgrade the high school outdoor athletic facility with a donation of more than CAN$900,000. The club’s popular fundraiser, a monthly Wing Night, forged on with online ordering and COVID safety regulations. All six monthly events were sold out, and proceeds will go to the development off a Lions’ Park in Ilderton.

When the Haddonfield Memorial High School Leo Club in New Jersey could not hold its annual Senior Prom, a dance for senior citizens in assisted living communities, Lion coordinator Heather Lacy came up with a new idea.  The Leos made tissue paper flowers and cards for the senior citizens. With the help of students, including 25 Leos making flowers from home, 180 colorful flower arrangements were delivered to two area nursing homes.

The Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions in New York joined with Mamaroneck’s Sedona Tap House for their Monday Dine Out for Charity to raise funds for the Community Resource Center’s eviction relief program that works with at-risk households to keep people in their homes. Lions’ matched the restaurant contributions, and with private donations added, contributed US$1,610 for the CRC.

In Alabama, the Adamsville-Forestdale Lions Club set up a tent across from the Fultondale City Hall to hand out emergency items to tornado victims. Lions also covered the cost of prescription medication, and provide eye exams and glasses free of charge.

In Texas, the Lancaster New Centennial Lions Club supported the Courageous Cancer Survivors of Lancaster Independent School District in February. Members donated wigs, hair products, body care, clothes, food, gift cards, backpacks, stuffed animals, blankets, and gas cards to the students’ homes.