Happy New Year to ALL

2026 can be a year we, globally as Lions International, locally as our individual clubs, and inclusively as a District and Multiple District, accomplish a needed impact on Hunger Crisis. The rise in food-insecurity is global, it is local. We as Lions can show the world that kindness, awareness, and generosity is easy. Join in the Global Week of Service now. Right now.

I have been involved with vision and nutrition outreach for the unhoused. I here so many stories of medical crisis, domestic violence, job loss, mental breakdown, and on and on that have catapulted a family or an individual into a dire situation that then becomes compounded by local and world politics, judgement, ignorance, violence … How do these people survive? Well, how can we help them recover what has been lost. Kindness. It begins with you.

It can be as simple as clearing out your panty of items that need to be used, going through your refrigerator and freezer of precious nutrition and creating a potluck meal for a local senior center, family shelter, homeless camp. Cash donations for food banks, Church meals, school lunches can go so far. It can change a life. All you have to do is look around and do not judge. “There but for the Grace of God go I.”  Some of us, including me, have been truly blessed with emotional and financial security. Even those who are “just getting by” might discover that they have more than they believed. Enough for Stone Soup. (that is a local weekly activity) – just bring a potato, leftover chicken, a can of tomatoes, and all can throw something in the pot. Bake some macaroni and cheese. Make a dozen sandwiches. We all have something to contribute.

 But – don’t forget to report the Hunger Service on the Lions Portal or to your District Service Chair. (i.e. Carol Swesso for District 36-E).