Lion - April 2018

Service

2018-04-06 07:00:20

Lion Memories are Deeply Rooted

There’s a growing stand of Blue Spruce trees on the east end of Lion’s Park in Beecher, Illinois. Some have been there for years. Others are recent additions, shorter and smaller.

Besides providing a natural nesting spot for birds, the greyish-blue evergreens block the wind, reduce noise, and produce oxygen. Their deep roots absorb water, deterring flooding.

Beecher Lion Bill Voss says he likes them. The Lions have planted at least 15 in the five-acre park over the years. But he doesn’t want to plant anymore because, “Every time we plant one, it means we’ve lost somebody.”

At the base of each spruce is a 12-by-12 tile permanently etched with the Lions International logo and the name of a deceased Lion who gave time and service to their community. “Planting a tree is a nice way to remember them,” says Voss. “It’s a tradition we plan to continue.”

The people of Beecher like to visit the small park to push kids on the swings, to play soccer or walk on the track that wraps around the site.

But most Lion activities and fundraisers happen less than eight blocks away at the town’s Firemen’s Park where the active club will be cooking 800 to 1,000 pounds of beef and 1,000 pounds of pork at their annual Summerfest on August 4. Along with the usual summer festival activities—including bingo, crafts, and a beer garden—the Lions have already made arrangements for both vision and diabetes screenings, and a blood drive.

Last year’s chainsaw cutter will make a repeat appearance, as well as a magic show, local karate experts, and a band. Lions also hope to include 15-minute helicopter rides at this year’s all-day event.

All funds go to charities and scholarships for graduating high school seniors, says Voss. “Anything we can do to help out, we’re all about. But we can use some more members. Those trees in the park bring back memories. Those are for Lions who did their part.”

Trees planted in memory of lost Lions.

Stuffed Animals Go Places

The Tri-Village Lions Club in Columbus, Ohio tried a new project at Christmas: a visit to Santa’s Workshop for a child’s best friend. They netted US$1,000 for a local charity, and then they started thinking like the Hollywood types: If it worked once, why not shoot a sequel?

For a US$10 donation, the Lions took a child’s favorite stuffed animal on an overnight trip to visit Santa, then returned it the next day with a personalized photo album of its adventure along with some Christmas cookies.

In spring, the Lions planned to do it again, but this time taking the stuffed animals off to visit the Easter Bunny. Even better, they thought, why not combine a fundraiser with a service project and bring some joy to the children at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Columbus Ronald McDonald House?

Lions bought 100 Easter baskets, 60 for the children in the hospital and 40 to use as a fundraiser, and filled them with grass and Easter eggs.

They invited families and school-age children to an egg decorating party where the community could color an egg that would put a smile on the face of a sick child.

“We were thrilled with the community response,” says Tri-Village Lion Jane Jarrow, who reports that more than 20 Lions from their club and others nearby, as well as 100 community members, stopped to decorate 300 eggs. Lions shot pictures of the Easter bunny with each of the stuffed animals and again created photo albums for the children so they could see the fun their special friend had. Hospitalized children were given Easter baskets stuffed with the animals, photos and treats.

Lion Debbie Perry helps a boy decorate an Easter egg for the children at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Columbus Ronald McDonald House in Ohio.

Special education teacher Debbie Perry used her creative touch and helped the Lions decorate the plastic eggs as popular characters like Minions and Angry Birds. And Perry was so pleased with the work and spirit of the Lions that she joined the club.

The Tri-Village Lions, who were later joined by the Olentangy Noon Lions, one of the newest clubs in their district, raised US$1,200 for CureJM (juvenile myositis), a nonprofit organization to support children afflicted with rare autoimmune diseases.

Jarrow calls the experience a win-win. The dedication of Lions got noticed throughout the community and money was raised for a charity dear to their hearts, as one of the Tri-Village Lions has a child with juvenile myositis. As a special bonus they were able to bring smiles to children in the hospital. And they picked up a new member along the way.

“What made it so attractive to the community members (who helped decorate the eggs) is that we weren’t asking for money. We weren’t asking for anything except their time,” says Jarrow. “And they responded. We’re very happy about it.”

Published by International Association of Lions Clubs . View All Articles.

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