Aurora Noon Lions award $1,000 to community agencies

Two Aurora community-service agencies were awarded $500 each by the Aurora Noon Lions Club Monday, Jan. 4.

Noon Lions president Michele Needham of Plainfield presented $500 checks to officials of Aurora's Mutual Ground domestic violence shelter and Salvation Army Aurora Corps.

Accepting for Mutual Ground was Michelle Meyer, executive director; and Salvation Army Lieutenants Linnea and Rich Forney accepted for the Aurora Corps.

Needham made the presentations at the club's biweekly membership luncheon at Luigi's Pizza in Aurora.

The Forneys said the Lions' donation helped Salvation Army exceed its $250,000 red kettle drive goal.

Noon Lions volunteers collected $835 in two red kettles at Cosmopolitan Marketplace in Aurora Nov. 13, said the Forneys.

Rich Forney said the Salvation Army distributed toys and clothing to 3,500 area residents in its 2015 official Angel Tree program.

Meyer expressed appreciation for the Lions' grant and also to the Salvation Army for cooperating with Mutual Ground in serving local families.

Founded in 1921, the Aurora Noon Lions Club seeks civic-minded men and women to join members in making a difference in the Fox Valley community. The club meets at noon on the first and third Mondays of each month at Luigi's Pizza, 932 Prairie St. in Aurora.

Club president Michele Needham said, "Our club gives members an opportunity to advance worthy causes, serve with friends, and become leaders in the community. This club means a lot to our Lions, but it means so much more to the people we serve."

The Lions' motto is "We Serve," and the Aurora Noon club has lived up to it. The Aurora Noon club supports vision and hearing-impaired initiatives while aiding community agencies such as the Salvation Army, Mutual Ground domestic violence shelter and Aurora Area Interfaith Food pantry with monetary donations and volunteers.

For information, call (630) 921-1307.