By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
Last weekend, the Crestline Lions Club held a food drive at Goodwin’s Market. As customers entered the store, if they desired, they were handed a list of food needs for the weekly community food bank held at the Seventh Day Adventist Church located in Valley of Enchantment. The food bank is open to anyone on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of Spruce and Waters Drive in VOE. The completely free food bank gives out food items to all families and individuals who arrive, without an application nor a need to prove need nor disclosing their income.
The Crestline Lions Club has been supporting Crestline food banks for over a decade. Twice each year the Lions hold a public food drive for the community and appreciate the generous nature of the local residents who give generously to their fellow residents in need. They were exceedingly grateful to Goodwin’s Market for allowing them to stand inside the store, passing out the lists of the foods desired, since the outside temperatures last weekend never reached above 40 degrees.
The list contained almost 50 suggested items of dry staples and canned foods, such as oatmeal, spaghetti, tuna, soups, canned veggies, flour, rice and peanut butter. With these items a family could make a variety of nutritious meals, which enables students to learn better and, with a better education, the children may excel. The collected food items were placed inside the SDA’s truck to go directly to the food bank to be distributed to the residents.
The Lions also collected some cash donations to purchase fresh items to be given out or gift certificates they will need for future food needs. The Lions Club members have often stepped up to help where they see an immediate need in the community.
The Lions Club raises funds in several ways. The Crestline club hosts the bingo games at Leisure Shores held on the first Friday of each month from 5 to 8 p.m. The public is invited to come play the games and have an evening of fun. Food and snacks are available; $25 buys 10 games, two cards for each game.
They also are currently collecting the items for a spring raffle basket; the drawing for the basket will take place in May. This next month, weather permitting, members of the Lions Club will be sitting outside the Crestline post office offering opportunity tickets to the basket with a list of the item inside the basket. The basket last year raised over $1,500 for the club, which they immediately donated back to the community. They also offer seasonal See’s Candy sales and firewood raffles to support their donations. The Lions continue to collect aluminum soda can pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. You may also donate used reading glasses to the club at Goodwin’s and other places in town, which are then distributed worldwide for those who need glasses.
The Crestline Lions Club supports over 25 different nonprofit organizations and scholarships in the community, including the food bank at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Valley of Enchantment.
To become involved in the Crestline Lions Club, which meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at Leisure Shores at 6:30 p.m., contact President Patti Barry at (909) 338-0030.
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