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The holidays are a time to gather with family and friends, enjoying good food and company. However, in the tough economy, many local families are finding it more difficult than ever before to put a wholesome meal on the table.
Recognizing the need, the Bartlett Lions Club has held an annual holiday dinner package event for the past three years.
Organizer and Lions Club member Norm Wertherton said with the help of donations, his group is able to purchase and box meals to distribute to local schools and both Hanover and Wayne townships.
Last year, the Lions Club handed out 250 meals. This year, members hope to double that number to 500, Wertherton said.
Each meal contains a 4-pound ham, mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, cake mix, cereal and paper goods.
“It’s a big challenge for us to double everything, but we need to help people that are having a rough time,” he said.
Bartlett Lions Club Director Anthony Troyke said in the past, about $5,700 of charitable fund money has covered a majority of the costs and the group also has reached out to local businesses and residents for donations. But because the group is trying to feed more people, more donations are needed this year than in past years.
“It’s definitely easy to write a check, but we’d like to get our hands a little dirtier,” Troyke said. “From start to finish, we need to take care of as many families as we can.”
The Lions Club also receives about $800 worth of boxes as a donation and has used a warehouse at Brewster Creek Industrial Center to box each meal.
Troyke said the boxes will be distributed between Dec. 15 and 17, and monetary donations will be accepted up until then.
Wertherton and Troyke both said they recognize it will be a challenge to meet the goal this year, but they are confident the community will rally to help.
“We haven’t made this kind of appeal before,” Troyke said. “We have the ability to deliver on the promise, and we feel very confident that we’ll be successful. America steps up and Bartlett is as American as can be.”
Want to help?
To help the Bartlett Lions Club, mail your donation payable to Bartlett Lions Charities Inc. to:
Bartlett Lions Charities Inc.
c/o N. Wetherton
488 S. Hickory Ave.
Bartlett, IL 60103
The holidays are a time to gather with family and friends, enjoying good food and company. However, in the tough economy, many local families are finding it more difficult than ever before to put a wholesome meal on the table.
Recognizing the need, the Bartlett Lions Club has held an annual holiday dinner package event for the past three years.
Organizer and Lions Club member Norm Wertherton said with the help of donations, his group is able to purchase and box meals to distribute to local schools and both Hanover and Wayne townships.
Last year, the Lions Club handed out 250 meals. This year, members hope to double that number to 500, Wertherton said.
Each meal contains a 4-pound ham, mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, cake mix, cereal and paper goods.
“It’s a big challenge for us to double everything, but we need to help people that are having a rough time,” he said.
Bartlett Lions Club Director Anthony Troyke said in the past, about $5,700 of charitable fund money has covered a majority of the costs and the group also has reached out to local businesses and residents for donations. But because the group is trying to feed more people, more donations are needed this year than in past years.
“It’s definitely easy to write a check, but we’d like to get our hands a little dirtier,” Troyke said. “From start to finish, we need to take care of as many families as we can.”
The Lions Club also receives about $800 worth of boxes as a donation and has used a warehouse at Brewster Creek Industrial Center to box each meal.
Troyke said the boxes will be distributed between Dec. 15 and 17, and monetary donations will be accepted up until then.
Wertherton and Troyke both said they recognize it will be a challenge to meet the goal this year, but they are confident the community will rally to help.
“We haven’t made this kind of appeal before,” Troyke said. “We have the ability to deliver on the promise, and we feel very confident that we’ll be successful. America steps up and Bartlett is as American as can be.”
Want to help?
To help the Bartlett Lions Club, mail your donation payable to Bartlett Lions Charities Inc. to:
Bartlett Lions Charities Inc.
c/o N. Wetherton
488 S. Hickory Ave.
Bartlett, IL 60103
