News : Lions Club hears from food pantry and Boy Scouts

Lions Certificate

Lions president Mike Timmermans with Jay Lash

Mike LaGrange, Linda Wood, Sherri Crawford, and Steve Wood

Vinton Lions Club members have enjoyed two great programs in the past two weeks. On January 13th the group heard from the Benton County Food Pantry and on January 20th it was the Vinton Boy Scouts Troop 47 celebrating 83 years of the Vinton Lions Club serving as the local troop’s chartering organization.

Sherry Crawford and Linda Wood presented on behalf of the Benton County Food Pantry. The two shared that they have been seeing increasing number of community elders through their partnership with LaDonna Marter at the Presbyterian Church. Sherry, Linda or Vickie Holst, their third co-director, helps organize a coffee gathering on the third Wednesday of each month where they also distribute food.

“It was an innovative way to reach those who wouldn’t be likely to come to the pantry,” Sherry said, “and it has grown from an attendance of six to 40 or more.”

The two volunteers made specific mention of many organizations that have helped the food pantry expand its reach. The Girl Scouts have given “birthday kits” so children of those using the pantry can have all the items they need for a birthday celebration. FFA was very generous with donations of fruit. The Fareway Store has been helpful in accepting a food pantry voucher program allowing families to purchase items not available through the food pantry like meat. And HACAP Food Reservoir was mentioned as a key resource in supplying food at low prices, training, inspections and support.

The pantry can always use donations of money or non-food items like toothpaste, deodorant, soap, laundry soap and other items families need that are otherwise unavailable through assistance.

In the group’s report were the following notes:

• Annual Thanksgiving groceries distribution, working with schools county-wide. In 2015, we served 169 people in Vinton and 321 in Belle Plaine. Total cost: $6,825.44. We added another distribution last year in May.

• Fund free milk in all Benton County elementary schools for students who can’t afford it.

• Monthly groceries for 40 veterans and seniors. Started at the Presbyterian Church as root beer floats for six seniors at the church in 2011.

• Now providing $150 per month and snack items for the North Star Drop-in Center, serving developmentally disabled adults.

We have terrific support in the community including:

• Over Christmas, local FFA kids donated several boxes of fresh fruit. We delivered several to local needy families with kids.
• Local National Honor Society students donated a LOT of food, as did Norway Elementary School.
• A rural Vinton couple sends us $400 a month continually. Others send monthly or holiday checks for anywhere from $25 to $1,000.
• Fareway has been a great partner. Monkeytown frequently donates toilet paper and paper towels, and also picks up large orders at HACAP for us. Local dentists help us buy dental supplies at cost.
• We continue to receive wonderful contributions through the Boy Scouts food drive each fall.

How many families we’ve served:

2010 – 239

2011 – 315

2012 – 602

2013 – 824

2014 – 925

2015 – 1,966

Donations can be sent to Benton County Food Pantry, 301 1st Avenue, Vinton, IA 52349.

Boy Scouts

Jay Lash presented on behalf of the Boy Scouts Troop 47. He presented a certificate to the Lion’s club celebrating their continued support as the local troop’s chartering organization.

“We can’t find specific information that any other group in Iowa has served more continuous years as a local troop’s chartering organization than the Vinton Lion’s Club has, so I think we should just call it a record,” Jay said.

The Vinton Lion’s Club first served as Troop 47’s chartering organization in 1933.

The troop welcomed 11 new scouts from the Boy Scouts, has three members actively engaged in achieving Eagle Scout status, and three more considering an Eagle Scout project. Among community service projects the scouts logged 240 hours of service, planted 500 saplings and again canvassed the entire community for donations to the Benton County Food Pantry.

Among their camping activities was a campout at Tobin’s, an excursion to Pleasant Creek, summer camp at the Boy Scout Camp near Central City, and a trip to Isle Royal National Park. In August two scouts attended the National Order of the Arrow Conference on the campus of Michigan State University, and one Troop 47 scout attned the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Kirara-hama, Japan.

The troop is raising funds to replace their 20-year-old trailer, and while 75% of the way there, would appreciate any donations from the community. Donations can be sent to : Jay Lash, 905 East 4th Street, Vinton, IA 52349.

The Vinton Lion’s Club meets every Wednesday for lunch. Three meetings each month are at the Pizza Ranch and one is at LaReyna Mexican Restaurant. Lions welcome new members interested in serving the community. To learn more about Lions or to request an opportunity to present information about your service work on behalf of the community, email VintonLionsClub@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page.