To benefit The Potsdam Neighborhood Center, the Potsdam Lions Club will sponsor a Winter Food Drive on Fri February 26 and Sat February 27, 12:00N to 6pm, at the local IGA grocery store, located at 27 Elm St, Potsdam. The motto of the worldwide Lions organization is "We Serve", meaning wherever there is a community need, to better our town & people, the local Lions members, will make caring, energized efforts to meet that need. The Potsdam Lions add to our community, by making a constructive and progressive difference, being a strong, involved, interested community support system. That's why the theme of the winter food drive is- Fill the Boxes- Fulfill the Hope!
The purpose of this winter food drive is to replenish the Emergency Food Pantry at the Potsdam Neighborhood Center, which is used frequently during the winter holiday season to help people and families in serious need. Now, during February, it is time to come together again as a caring, giving community to help our neighbors who need to reach out for help, to obtain essential food provisions.
At the center's Emergency Food Pantry, just one of their helpful outreach programs, a household can be offered a 5-day supply of food, if they have no money, family support, or food stamps. Anyone can imagine, if not at sometime, experienced the discomfort, discouragement and stress of hunger, especially if children are suffering and going without food. All food donations of canned, boxed and bottled imperishable products are welcomed and appreciated, as well as bagged vegetables and fruit. Monetary donations are also needed, so fresh healthy food can also be provided with the offered emergency food supply. A Lions table will be set up at The IGA front area on 2/26-27, where boxes will be set up to fill up with grocery supplies- and Hope!
We thank our local IGA for hosting the Lions Club winter food drive, as they are repeatedly supportive in offering their store as a place to come together to resolve and provide community needs. We also thank the college students who will also be participating in the food collection activities. We hope everyone can help in some way! The Potsdam Neighborhood Center, located at the Civic Center (basement), 2 Park Street, Potsdam, has a hopeful goal, "A hand up, not a hand out", which shows their motive to be a positive support system for those at risk of personal suffering and struggle in our community. Please see their website to realize all they do through their assistance programs! The Mission of the Potsdam Neighborhood Center is to help improve living standards for those in need, and additionally help them in the future, by establishing continued guidance, goals, priorities and hopeful support. The Potsdam Lions Club, an active, foundational service organization in our community, recognizes the needful services and great efforts of The Potsdam Neighborhood Center. It is with sincere concern for people in crisis-level need that both our organizations partner to make sure emergency food supplies are on hand, providing relief and care. So please- Fill the Boxes-Fulfill the Hope!
The Potsdam Lions Club President, Joe Fitzsimons, with B99.3 Radio Host Vinny Dalton, on Dec. 22nd. B99.3 opened the airwaves for the Potsdam Lions Club to thank all of the Potsdam merchants and people, and surrounding communities for their generous support of the recent Warm Winter Raffle that will benefit the Potsdam Helping Hands & Potsdam Neighborhood Center, as they assist those in need with heating costs during the coldest times of the winter.
Thank you, Michelle Theisen
Secretary Potsdam Lions Club
Potsdam Lions are conducting a Helping Neighbors in Need Keep Warm This Winter Holiday Raffle from October 27-December 15, 2015. 100% of the money raised from this raffle will go to the Potsdam Neighborhood Center and Helping Hands to help defray heating costs for families in need this winter. Tickets are just $5 each or a book of 6 tickets for $25. Prizes include: 2 Handcrafted Wool Afghans, 4 piece setting of Lenox Gold Rimmed Fine China, Compact Dewalt Drill and Driver, $100 gift certificate to Jake's on the Water, Potsdam Co-Op Loaf of Fresh Bread Each Week for 12 weeks, Bluetooth Tower Speaker, 2 $25 gift certificates to 1844 House, $25 gift certificate to Eben's Hearth. The drawing will be December 16, 2015. Potsdam Lions wish to thank the following businesses for their generous support: Sears, Jake's On the Water, Potsdam Co-Op, Evans & White Ace Hardware, 1844 House and Eben's Hearth.
Potsdam Lions will be partnering with several churches in Potsdam to help pack and deliver Thanksgiving baskets to families in need this Thanksgiving. Lions supplied funding to help purchase the turkeys for the baskets and will assist in delivering the Thanksgiving baskets. The Lions have been a proud partner in this project for more than 20 years.
