Morrison Lions Club has distributed funds for many different entities and services during 2013. It is important to keep the community, our supporters, informed of how monies are spent. Annual donations were made to Lions Clubs International Foundation, the Lions of Illinois Foundation, and to Camp Lions, established by Lions of Illinois.
The camp provides camping experience to children and adults. Lions Clubs International’s vision statement is to be the global leader in community and humanitarian service. Lending support to volunteers–enabling them to serve their communities–is a huge part of our motto, “We Serve.” The Lions of Illinois Foundation’s purpose is to provide quality programs and services to our Illinois residents for detection, treatment, and rehabilitation of visual and hearing impairments. They assist the local Lions Clubs in gaining access for needed help in these areas.
The club supports the American Diabetes Association. It is a well known fact that diabetes is a leading cause of blindness. Funds are sent annually to Leader Dogs for the Blind. The cost of raising a leader dog from puppy to leader dog is approximately $25,000. This includes training that is given to the dog and the person receiving the dog. The recipient is provided round trip travel expense along with lodging, including meals. The club donates funds to the Helping Hand group and members donate caps, scarves, gloves and mittens at Christmas for distribution to local families in need when they pick up their gifts from the Helping Hand group. A donation is given to Odell Public Library for the purchase of large print books and books on tapes.
The club supports the Center for Sight and Hearing in Rockford, Illinois. It is staffed by qualified personnel providing hearing and low vision services as well as communication services. Products aiding those with vision and hearing issues can be purchased at the Center.
Support to local youth programs include Morrison Boy Scouts and Morrison Little League. The club also donated back to the CGH Health Foundation for their Eyeglasses for Kids program that assisted 16 local youth with eyeglasses. An annual scholarship is awarded to a Morrison graduating senior. The club provided assistance to eight Morrison residents by funding the purchase of eyeglasses.
Last March, the club sponsored a pancake breakfast and divided the funds between the club and Morrison Seahorses to lend assistance to that group in their efforts to obtain a new scoreboard.
Fundraising has started for a picnic pavilion at the new Sports Complex to mark our 75th anniversary. This is a major project and continued support of the community will be needed. Prior to Christmas, a pie eating contest was sponsored by Sullivan’s Foods.
Lion Sandy Shetler’s grandchildren, Kody and Kaylee Shetler, shown left-to-right, were winners in the contest and received a prize. They directed the $100 donation from Sullivan’s be paid to Morrison Lions. Kaylee helped with the pavilion pancake breakfast fundraiser. The Sullivan’s donation was added to the pavilion fund. Thank you to the Shetlers for directing the donation to the club.
This breakdown informs you, our supporters, how funds are used from various fundraisers: Rose Day, Candy Day, Holiday Ham Sale, and pancake breakfasts.
All are welcome to visit our meetings on the first and third Tuesdays, at noon at Happy Joe’s, 109 W. Main Street, Morrison, IL. View our website at www.eclubhouse.org/sites/morrisonil.
Picture Caption: Kody and Kaylee Shetler at the start of the pie eating contest.