By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The Crestline Lions Club is always seeking new ways to connect with and to benefit the local community. They recently held another successful Community Appreciation Day in Crestline. Four years ago, they decided to show their appreciation for all the ways the community supports them and began looking for ways to show that love they have for their fellow mountaineers.
“Without the support of our community we could not do all the projects we support,” said past Lions President Catherine Johnson. “Every box of See’s Candy that they buy, every firewood ticket they purchase and every First Friday Bingo Night at Leisure Shores they attend – all those profits go back into the community and inspire us to continue to help our community.”
They advertised this Community Appreciation Day through Facebook and flyers in town. They set up a booth in the Goodwin’s Market parking lot and, for the first time, there was a line for their hot dogs when they opened at 11 a.m. on July 11. It was 85 degrees and sunny so the weather, although a little humid, was perfect for this giveaway.
They continued with their free distribution of hot dogs, giving out their 200th hot dog at 2:45. They also gave out 195 bags of chips, eight gallons of lemonade and many bottles of water.
The first customer didn’t even want a hot dog; he was new to the mountain and wanted to know more about what was happening and why the Lions Club would just give out hot dogs to anyone. They explained the purpose of Lions International and their motto “We Serve” and that they were grateful for the support the community gives to them. They of course invited him to one of their meetings on the fourth Tuesday of every month at Leisure Shores in Crestline at 6:30 p.m.
They explained to many who were there that one of their identifying programs is eye care and blindness prevention. They also gave a referral to their eyeglass chairman for a vision care exam to several who were there, as vision is their number one priority.
The Lions also went inside the store and invited all the Goodwin’s employees to come out on their break and get a hot dog. The Lions were also very grateful that Mike Johnstone allows them to use his parking lot each year for this event and others for the community.
The newest Lions Club members Paco and Consuelo Pecararo, Michelle Scarbrough and Anita Morrison felt fortunate that they were able to feel some of the community appreciation when they volunteered for this Community Appreciation Day.
Some of the other activities the Lions participate in include the backpack giveaway, on which they partner with the Crestline-Lake Gregory Rotary Club; and food drives for the Seventh-day Adventist Church food pantry, which operates every Sunday. They also give out scholarships to local graduating high school seniors, they collect soda pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House in Loma Linda, they adopt and clear around fire hydrants in the snow and they support local Toys for Tots.
For more information about the Crestline Lions Club, contact Past President Lion Catherine Johnson at (909) 338-5738.
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