26 members of the Middlebury Lions Club completed their annual “Food from the Heart” food drive on the Saturday before Easter. The food drive is conducted in support of the CVOEO and HOPE food shelves. Once again our community demonstrated their outstanding generosity by donating just over 2.5 tons of food in only 6 hours. One community resident filled an entire shopping cart with goods to donate. Other community members preferred to quietly donate cash in lieu of goods. The Middlebury Lions also added their own cash contribution; making a total cash gift of $2,000 to be shared between our Middlebury food pantries. Many thanks go out to our area grocers: Hannaford, Kinney Drugs, Middlebury Natural Foods CO-OP, Pratt's Store, and Shaw’s. Half of the goods were delivered to CVOEO that same day. “Thank you Middlebury Lions! 1,983 pounds of food gathered in food drive for our food shelf in Middlebury” says the CVOEO website alongside a photo of a huge pile of foods and smiling Lions. The remainder of the food was delivered to the HOPE food shelf on April 2nd.
Vermont K-12 population is currently estimated at 84,334 students.
Vermont Lions KidSight has screened the vision of over 22,000 kids this year.
This year the GMLC teen session will run from July 1st thru 13th, with the youth session will running from July 15th thru the 21st. GMLC Committee members gathered in Rutland on February 24th to plan this year’s camper activities and begin the hiring process that will ensure the camp is fully staffed with highly qualified counselors. Tri-Chairpersons Lion Brian Steckley, Lion Gia Vadnais, and Lion Patricia Johnston-McWilliams, RN have also made plans for another “Lions Work Day” at the camp on June 9th from 10am until 4pm. Last year’s work day accomplished a huge amount of spring clean-up activities to help make the camp safe and ready. It also did a tremendous job of building trust and strengthening our partnership between Lions and facility owners. Mark your calendars for June 9th and bring all your spring cleaning skills. We certainly hope to see as many Lions there as possible. The lunch alone will be worth the trip!
In other news our thanks go out to the GMLC Calcutta co-chairs PDG Betsy MaGee and PCT Loreen Teer for hosting another successful Calcutta to benefit our camp. This year’s 1st place winner was Colchester Lion Carmelita Belisle taking home $1,000. Our 2nd place winners Steven and Connie Weston brought home a great Geiger jacket. The 3rd annual Region 1 GMLC Calcutta was held on March 3rd at the Essex Junction Post 6689 VFW with approximately 80 in attendance. Thanks to all who attended, donated prizes and worked on the event. The kids at camp truly appreciate everyone’s efforts on their behalf. Next up on the GMLC fundraising front – The Lions Twin State Soccer tournament July 21st at Castleton University. Join the fun on the soccer field if you aren’t at the Green Mountain Lions Camp.
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