S. Elgin Lions need help with Holiday Food Baskets

Last year when the South Elgin Lions Club revamped its Holiday Food Basket project, no one anticipated the community would come together as it did, the impact it would have on the South Elgin residents and the stories shared by residents.

One of the most touching stories came from a senior widow who had lost her husband just months before Christmas. She had called the club to request that her name be removed from the list, saying she had panicked when she signed up for the assistance. But she realized she was in good shape and wanted her basket to go to a family in need. That day, a young family walked in and requested a food basket. If the widow had not forfeited her basket, the Lions would not have been unable to help because the widow's basket was the last one. As a Lion was helping load the food into the family's car, the 8-year-old son thanked the Lions and said how much the food basket would help his family because his father had died two weeks earlier.

Many other families also expressed thanks and shared stories of hardship due to the economy and lack of work. The food baskets were a blessing as they were struggling to make ends meet. Last year, 6.75 tons of food and $7,000 in donations were collected, allowing the Lions to coordinate the assembly and distribution of 225 Christmas food baskets and toys to South Elgin citizens in need.

The need this year remains high and the South Elgin Lions goal is to match or exceed what was collected and distributed last year. Lion Joe Groth said he was amazed last year at the generosity of the community; checks ranged from $5 to $100 and often with notes from the donor wishing they could afford to give more.

If you would like to assist with this project, bring all nonperishable food, toy or monetary donations to the South Elgin Municipal Annex, 1 W. State St., South Elgin. Checks should be made payable to the South Elgin Lions Club with a notation on the bottom that it is for the food baskets. Checks or cash donations can be mailed to the South Elgin Lions Club, 500 Fulton St., South Elgin, IL 60177. If you have questions or would like to help assemble or distribute the baskets, please contact Lion Leo Snyder at (847) 888-9575.