Donna Hulban, former President of the Lions Club, couldn’t put a number on the toys her organization received this year from Fast Break Liquor and the Nomad Group designated for less fortunate children in the valley. What she did know was that the generosity of the community was above and beyond expectations, and that everyone the Lions Club served got two baskets of food, including a turkey provided by Care and Share, two toys per child, and side items galore.
“Both Fast Break and Nomad, I believe, are in their fourth year of helping us make Christmas merry for people in the valley,” she shared Tuesday morning. “I have toys left over in the basement that will be used for Bible Schools and Awana’s and any special needs that come up between now and next Christmas. We just received so much!”
Ponder, if you will, the generosity of these organizations. Hulban shared that one community member gives a $20 bill to every teenager because that is the age group hardest to shop for. Fast Break supplied three huge boxes of toys donated by customers.
Jon Hendry, General Manager of Fast Break, and Roberta Anderson, Manager, sweetened the pot with a random drawing for three $25 gas cards from the names of people who donated toys. For Hendry, the driving concept behind the toy give-away is that the toys go to local children. That is also the driving force for the Lions Club, so it was a natural progression that these organizations would work together.
Nomad Group has also been instrumental in making sure everyone has a good Christmas. Hulban shared that, this year, they provided a $25 gift card for Cinemax and a $50 gift card for Walmart for each child, along with a number of toys.
The Lions Club and Volunteers for Community (VFC) generally split the names of those in need of help for Christmas. This year each organization had 46 names. Last year, because of COVID, the Lions Club carried the load themselves.
“We are so grateful to the community, Nomad, VFC, Care and Share and Table Mountain Church for their involvement in making local children and families feel the care and concern of us all.” Shared Hulban. “I hope I’m not forgetting anyone. I’ll always be a Lion,” she summarized. “The community will always have those in need, and the Lions Club and our partners can make a difference in people’s lives.”