Paradise Lions Are Busy Serving the Community

"We do a lot of community service work," said Pat Kelley, president of the Paradise Township Lions Club. The club, which has more than 20 members, keeps a busy schedule raising funds, collecting donated food and items, and even shucking corn - all to benefit VisionCorps and area residents in need.

On July 28, 13 Lions Club members and a few spouses gathered with members of the Paradise Fire Company at the Leaman Place station to husk corn for at least five hours. This is the second year that the Lions members have joined forces with fire company members to help prepare the corn for the fire company's pig roast. Lion Charlie Neff worked with a Paradise Fire representative to coordinate the effort. In return for their help, the club members receive corn that they use to make chicken corn soup. "That's our specialty," shared Kelley, who noted that the Lions members work the concession stand at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center. "We come in, and we make breakfast and lunch for them," shared Kelly.

To help raise funds, the club holds soup and sandwich sales in the Community Building in Paradise Park, 6 London Vale Road, Gordonville. The next event will be on Saturday, Dec. 20, beginning at 11 a.m. Ham and cheese sandwiches will be sold, along with the soup. "People are outside clamoring for the soup before it's done," shared Kelley. The sale continues until the food is sold out.

This summer, the Lions have planned two events to aid The Factory Ministries in supporting local students as well as families and individuals in need of food. On Saturday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., a "Fill the Trailer" event will be held to collect back-to-school items for The Factory. The trailer will be parked at the Paradise Township Building, 2 Township Drive, Paradise. Among the items that will be accepted to help fill the trailer will be backpacks, water bottles, earphones that plug into a computer or reduce background noise, glue sticks, no. 2 pencils with erasers, colored pencils, construction paper, rulers, index cards, red and black pens, paper clips, hand-held pencil sharpeners, hand sanitizer, staples, white board markers and erasers, pocket folders, and paper towels. "We're looking to fill the trailer with those kinds of items," shared Kelley.

The Lions also support local students through an annual Skip Lichty scholarship in the amount of $1,500, which is awarded to a Pequea Valley High School graduating senior who plans to attend an accredited postsecondary program to pursue a certificate, two-year degree, or four-year degree.

The second collection event will focus on nonperishable food items for The Factory Market. That collection will be held at the township building on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kelley has requested that club members try to bring food items for individuals on special diets. "I asked our club members to avoid things with sugar because (food is needed) for diabetics," she stated. Kerri Burns, market director at The Factory Ministries, also provided a list of items that the market can always use. On that list were personal items, such as shampoo, deodorant, body wash, toilet paper, and laundry soap, along with paper towels.

Because the Lions main focus is VisionCorps, the organization holds a yearly fundraiser called "Dinner in the Dark," which gives attendees a unique opportunity to eat a meal with limited or no vision. The event raises as much as $4,000 for the work of VisionCorps.

The Lions also take part in the Halloween Trunk or Treat in Paradise Park, and they support local boy and girl Scout troops and veterans' causes. The group has worked with the Strasburg Lions on a Christmas event to help offset costs, and they coordinate with the Kinzer Fire Company to hold blood drives.

In the fall, Kelley is hoping to hold a drop-off event to collect used eyeglasses.

The Paradise Lions have been active in the Pequea Valley area since 1928. The group meets in the Community Building in the Paradise Park every second and fourth Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m. Readers who would like more information about the club may visit http://www.paradisetwplions.com/. Individuals who have specific questions about joining the group may email ptkelley7755@hotmail.com.