In the past year, Morrison Lions donated to several youth programs including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Morrison Youth Baseball and Softball organizations. A college scholarship was awarded to a Morrison graduating Senior. Vision service assistance was provided to local adults, and the club supported the CGH Eyeglasses for Kids program. This program provided eyeglasses to several Morrison youth. The club donated money, and members donated scarves, caps, and gloves/mittens to the Helping Hand group that aids needy families at Christmas. A donation was given to Odell Public Library for the purchase of large-print books. The club also supported the American Legion Veterans Memorial fund drive and worked with the Legion in replacing the flagpole at Morrison-Rockwood State Park.
Flora Stralow, left, and Tracy Muur are shown with cash and grocery items for the Morrison Friends Food Pantry. The collection was during a special drive for January 2017 commemorating Lions Worldwide Week of Service to Fight Hunger.
The club supported Lions Clubs International Foundation and the Leader Dogs for the Blind. They provide trained leader dogs, including equipment, and up to 25 days of lodging and meals, plus transportation both ways, to the recipient at no cost. This past year the club also donated to their capital improvement campaign, for a much needed renovation of the facility. All of these donations were a result of the support from our community for the various fundraisers held throughout the year. We again say thank you all for the privilege of keeping our motto, “We Serve,” in our community.
At the State level, support was given to the Lions of Illinois Foundation, the American Diabetes Foundation, and the Center for Sight and Hearing located in Rockford, IL. The center provides vision and hearing services that combines technology and personalized services. There is also a shop where vision and hearing assistance devices can be purchased. Support is also provided for Camp Lions, where visual- and hearing-impaired children and adults can enjoy a week of camping. Support was provided to the Low Vision Program. It enables special needs children to be examined and provided with specialized equipment, to assist with their vision problems. Support was also given to Eversight Illinois. Eversight provides donor tissue for many different needs, including cornea transplants.
At our January meeting annual donations were approved for the Lions International Foundation, Lions of Illinois Foundation, and the Center for Sight and Hearing. A donation was also approved for the Low Vision Program. You can learn more about any of these entities by visiting their websites.
Bob Smith, right, was in charge of the program for January. He introduced Pam Pfister, CEO, and Mick Welding, Marketing Director, with Morrison Community Hospital. Welding presented an update on what is new at the hospital and what the Morrison Hospital Foundation is doing to raise funds. He told of the Community Garden, the Tree of Lights, and the Holiday Ball held at Rastrelli’s. The hospital has also established a donor wall and is involved with teaching CPR to high school Seniors, City employees, and sports coaches.
Pfister discussed the many and great changes happening at the hospital. Those include three new specialized doctors being added to the staff, ultrasound services, and more primary care providers. Funding through the USDA has been approved for updates, allowing major changes to the Emergency Room and lab facilities. Ultimately, the hospital will be reconfigured to make it much more organized and more accessible to the public. She foresees challenges, including State reimbursement, managed care requirements, and what will become of the Affordable Care Act. It was emphasized that the Family Care Clinic is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 7, at noon at Happy Joe’s, 109 W. Main Street, Morrison, IL. Rebecca Green is in charge of the program. All are welcome to come to any of meetings.
To learn more about Morrison Lions Club and the services and programs we support, visit our club website at www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/morrisonil.