Keith Hamstra was in charge of the February 2020 program and introduced Kaywyn Beswick, Director of Morrison Friends Food Pantry. It is open weekly on Thursdays (except holidays) from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Morrison United Methodist Church provides space for the Pantry. Food is purchased from River Bend Food Bank at greatly-reduced costs. They also donate some of the food and produce. Non-food items such as soaps, toothpaste, personal hygiene items, and dish and laundry soap are received from personal donors. Sullivan’s Foods also donates left-over baked items and meats. The store provides special food bags for the needy during the holiday season that their customers purchase for the Pantry. Help for the Food Pantry also comes from Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts; other businesses; the Post Office; Wal-Mart; local schools; community members; organizations. The busiest time for the Pantry is the holiday season, when the number served rises to about 200 people a month. Many members of the community assist in the operation during the open hours and general organization of all items that are received. The community is lucky to have this food pantry and a group of dedicated community volunteers.
The new year started with Morrison Lions approving annual donations to Lions Club International Foundation, Center for Sight and Hearing, and the Lions of Illinois Foundation for the low-vision screening program. The Center for Sight and Hearing is located in Rockford, IL. It provides vision and hearing services; occupational therapy; orientation and mobility training for those with low vision. The Center has a store that sells visual and hearing equipment. The low-vision screening program provides clinical services for students with vision and other disabilities. Clinics are free and provide any visual aide free of charge. Students can be referred to these clinics through Special Education teachers.
The annual District 1-D Convention will be held at the Days Inn, Rock Falls, IL, on Friday evening through Saturday evening, March 6 and March 7. The event will include elections, a memorial service, entertainment, and main speaker, PID Nicholas Xinopoulos from Brownsburg, IN.
Our meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays at noon, at Happy Joe’s Pizza, 109 W. Main Street, Morrison, IL. We invite anyone interested in learning more about Lions to come to any of our meetings. You can also learn more about our club by visiting the website www.eclubhouse.org/sites/morrisonil.