Working on a couple of projects, members of the Escalon Lions Club will participate in a Statewide Food Drive this week and are preparing for their annual St. Patrick’s Dinner in March.
On Saturday, Feb. 27, community members are encouraged to support the California Lions Project Care: Hunger. This is a statewide Lions Club service project being conducted during the month of February. The local Lions Club will be collecting non-perishable food items for distribution to the local Escalon C.A.R.E. Food Pantry.
Club members will be collecting non-perishable food items at the MarVal Main Street parking lot on McHenry Avenue from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
All state and local COVID-19 health measures will be followed while the food collection is occurring.
The purpose of the California Lions Project Care: Hunger is to engage all California Lions clubs of all sizes in a statewide community service program that is of vital importance during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are excited about participating in this statewide project and we look forward to the Escalon Lions Club making a significant contribution to achieving this goal,” said Escalon Lions Club President Mike Powers. “It is an opportunity for our local Lions Club members to engage in a meaningful project that will greatly benefit our community during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Non-perishable food items are being sought during the drive, from canned and boxed goods such as fruits and vegetables to soups, cereals, canned meats and more.
“We’ve also been picking oranges and donating them to C.A.R.E,” Powers added, noting that some club members have orange trees on their property and donate the fruit to the local food pantry. “They (C.A.R.E. officials) love them down there and they’re all excited about this food drive.”
Next month, Powers said the club will put on one of its favorite annual events.
“On Saturday, March 13 we will present our popular St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef Dinner Fundraiser. After having to cancel last year’s event, we are excited to be able to again present this dinner fundraiser to the community,” Powers said. “Because of the pandemic restrictions we are going to make this a drive-thru/take-out style dinner at the Community Center. Dinners can be picked up beginning at 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. or until we are sold out.”
Also, he said, the popular fundraising prize drawings will also be available with a slightly different twist than in the past to accommodate the drive-thru aspect.
Tickets will be pre-sold for $15 a dinner. Tickets can be bought and picked up at D’Boni’s Pizza, Main Street Garage and Escalon Body and Frame. You can also order tickets by emailing a request to EscalonLionsClub@gmail.com.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can join the Escalon Lions and participate in their community projects/programs, contact the Escalon Lions Club at EscalonLionsClub@gmail.com.
For additional information about California Lions Clubs visit their website, www.californialions.org or their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CaLionsClubs. The California Lions Clubs are part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service club organization.
Since 1918, Lions Clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.
