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Receiving

Lion Joyce Fall, left,  and gives a Putnam Lions Club donation to Kathi Peterson of the Interfaith Services. Courtesy photo.

 

PUTNAM --- April 15, the Putnam Lions and Putnam Leos, local organizations, charities and Lion’s charities celebrated the Putnam Lion’s Annual Night of Giving and more than $19,000 was given out.  

The Night of Giving is the culmination of a year of hard work and fund-raising events.  It is at this special event that the Putnam Lions and Leos give back to the community all the funds they have raised throughout the course of the year.  The $19,000-plus given out this year brings the Putnam Lion’s year-long donations to $21,890.

The organizations and charities have the chance to share what the donations go towards and how they have affected others lives.  For example, Kathi Peterson of Interfaith 

Services highlighted the Diaper Bank, explaining that they were now the only Diaper Bank for the entire Windham County.  In addition, the food bank has served 225 families and donations for the homeless were recently used to help improve lives.

Sarah Mortensen of NOW explained how NOW was providing healthy alternatives to playing video games all day.  The programs in nutrition, the introduction to various sports and the scholarships for youth to participate in sports all help to combat childhood obesity and to provide lifelong skills contributing to a healthy lifestyle.  

Some of the stories were as uplifting as Judith Gehrig of Community Cafe explaining how they’ve served over 11,000 meals and provided as many connections.  Some of the stories didn’t leave a dry eye, such as Annette Martel who spoke of her son as she accepted a donation from the Leos towards the Sunshine Kids.   Other people spoke of the triumph of the spirit and the help from their service dogs.  Kent Phyfe of Vet Dogs, Wendy Debaros of Fidelco and Ailene Akers of CRIS radio were all in attendance with their service dogs who are critical to helping their owners regain independence and confidence.

In all, 47 organizations attended the event.  They ranged from the Arc Quinebaug Valley, to the local schools’ groups, to Day Kimball Hospital organizations, to Lions’ charities.  The funds will cover everything from sporting endeavors to service dogs to help with health and eyesight to arts and entertainment.