By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY – Staff Writer

This Saturday, April15, in conjunction with the Operation Mountain Strong and Mountain Area Mutual Aid relief groups, the Crestline Lions Club will be offering its next community distribution at Lake Gregory’s North Shore parking lot. The distribution will start at 10:00 a.m.

Along with the Mountain Strong food items, the Lions will be distributing jackets, boots, food and gift cards. Mountain Area Mutual Aid will continue to be there distributing food from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This is a good opportunity for the community to meet, thank and get to know the folks who have been feeding our communities for weeks now, since the storms ended. Remember to thank those who helped you and invite them to the community luncheons for the next couple weeks.

People of all ages may attend these “thank you” luncheons and bring their friends, some of whom may have been isolated during the storm, to the luncheons at the San Moritz Lodge. These free luncheons are an extension of the senior nutrition program; these free meals will only occur for a couple more weeks on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Lions Club has worked with the Mountain Mutual Aid Agency several times previously during the recent disaster. Mountain Mutual Aid is the group that operates the Blue Jay Cinema food distribution site on Saturdays and supports the Wednesday distribution at the mini storage in VOE. VOE was severely hit by the storm and had over 20 collapsed homes.

When the Lions had their last distribution of shovels, jackets and food at Crestline Real Estate, all the items were gone in less than an hour. This distribution is in the parking lot, so drive down into the North Shore parking area and pick up those items, such as the boots and jackets which are for there for those who need them. The Lions Club has purchased all the items from donations they have received from other clubs. The Lions have spent the last week purchasing these items and are generously donating them to community members who need them. They will also be giving out gift cards.

Arrive on time as these coats, boots and gift cards for Stater Bros, Lake Drive Hardware and Rim Forest Lumber are usually distributed very swiftly.