South Elgin Lions Club to sell rain barrels in time for spring showers

During a recent club meeting, South Elgin Village President Jim Hansen and Village Administrator Larry Jones presented South Elgin Lions Club president Ed McCarthy with a plaque and a copy of the proclamation that announced March 3, 2010 to be Lions Club Day in the village.

This proclamation recognized that the club and its members participate in over 25 local events each year, as well as organizing a food drive for needy families when another local organization was no longer able to do so.

Last December, the club coordinated the collection, creation, and distribution of Christmas baskets. In a mere seven weeks, a total of 6.75 tons of food was collected and over $7,000 in cash and toy donations were received from the residents and local businesses. Through the efforts of all the volunteers, 225 Christmas food baskets and toys were distributed to needy families in South Elgin. After the distribution of the baskets, an additional $1,005 and about 200 pounds of food were donated to the South Elgin Food Pantry.

With spring just around the corner, the South Elgin Lions Club Green Team is selling rain barrels to the public. Each barrel is capable of holding 55 gallons of water that might have run into a storm drain or down the street. Barrels are being sold for $65 each and all profits from sales of the barrels will help fund Environmental Greening projects at Lions Park, such as rain gardens, level spreaders, and erosion control through the South Elgin Parks and Recreation FUNdation. In the summer, average water consumption for each house increases by 40 percent due to watering of lawns, gardens and flower beds. Using a rain barrel can help reduce some of that extra water consumption. If interested, mail checks to South Elgin Lions Club, 500 Fulton St., South Elgin IL 60177 and indicate this is for the rain barrel project and include your contact information. If you have questions about the barrels or want to arrange to a pick-up, call (847) 888-9575 or e-mail rainbarrels@southelginlions.com.