Lions present donations at annual Christmas dinner

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

The Nevada Lions' Club held its annual Christmas dinner at the Nevada Country Club Tuesday. Members enjoyed the time they had before the dinner, taking the opportunity to mingle and enjoy the company of fellow members without the time constraints of normal meetings.

Local harpist Linda Carlton, who has become very familiar to Nevada audiences, performed before the dinner, the music blending with the talk and laughter of the members in a pleasant manner. The group were served several hors 'doeuvres provided by the country club before the meal and during Carlton's harp playing.

It wasn't all fun however, Lions president, Sue Quitno, reminded Lions about the upcoming projects and showed the members the $300 check the club received from Wal-Mart. The Lions board voted to divide the check into four donations to local individuals and organizations to help during the Christmas Season. Richard and Debbie Goodwin, Community Outreach, the Salvation Army, and the Show-Me Christian Youth Home were each given $75.

Lions members will be on hand at a local department store Saturday, Dec. 11, to help with "Shop With a Kid Day" when members will take children from families facing financial hardship around the store to purchase gifts they would not otherwise have a chance to get. Members will also be on hand Saturday, Dec. 18 to ring the bells at the Salvation Army's red kettles spotted at both entrances to the store.

The club members each brought a gift to be donated to the Vernon County Ambulance District's toy drive. Gifts tended to be traditionally for boys and included a Mighty Morphing Power Rangers outfit, remote controlled cars and electronic games. The members cited remarks by James McKenzie at a recent Lions' meeting when he said that boys received fewer toys than girls during the annual toy drive as the reason for giving more toys that are traditionally viewed as for boys.

After the dinner the United Methodist Handbell Choir serenaded the Lions with many classic Christmas tunes including "Silent Night" and "Silver Bells." The 15-member choir used bells that ranged from tiny little tinklers that ringers could hold two of to large bells more than six inches in diameter.