By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY

Staff Writer

The Crestline Lions Club had a very successful food drive and food distribution on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Goodwin’s Market in Crestline. Lions Club International declared February as “Hunger Month,” challenging each Lions Club to choose a way to help their community to lessen hunger.

In Crestline, the Lions Club decided to hold a food drive in the morning from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and to distribute that food they had collected from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. They gave a list of items they wanted for the bags to those shoppers who wanted to shop for the food drive. They were able to distribute 104 bags of food to 52 clients, plus 50 $10 gift certificates to Goodwin’s Market and 26 loaves of bread.

There was $563 donated by the Goodwin’s shoppers; the Lions spent $262 dollars of that to be sure the bags of food were complete. Each person who came to the distribution booth got two bags of food, one of canned goods and one of dry staples. There were no criteria for receiving the items. Each bag was complete for them, and many had bonus items as well. The left over $301 in cash donated is being given to the Mt Calvary Lutheran Church for their food pantry. Every penny and food item will be donated to those in need.

It was a cold and blustery day when 11 members of the Lions Club volunteered their time either collecting the food from shoppers, setting up the bags of food or standing out in the parking lot distributing the food. It was quite an efficient project, and many community residents were excited to be involved in this worthy project. Some went home and brought additional items from their own pantries.

Catherine Johnson bought the items the previous week, so she figured they gave out the value of $3,2756 worth of food, weighing 1,456 pounds. Goodwin’s Vice President and General Manager Mike Johnstone graciously donated the plastic bags for the Lions food project and allowed them to use his store and parking lot for giveaway.

The Lions Club is now seeking another way to help the community. Their number one project is preservation of sight, so those who need eyes glasses or eye exams, but can’t afford them, should contact Crestline Lions Club President Libby Hayes at (909) 338-1724.

The Crestline Lions Club meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at Leisure Shores Community Center for dinner at 6:30 p.m. Call President Libby for more information about the meetings and the excellent projects that this award-winning Lions Club does for the community.

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lions club food distribution

The Crestline Lions Club held a food drive and distribution on Feb. 4 at Goodwin’s Market. (Photo by Rhea-Frances Tetley)