It’s that time of the year again…when fall is in the air and before the great pumpkin arrives, apples are the gold standard, found in pies, cakes, sauces, and butters, among other things.
Why the gold standard? Well, in addition to the health benefits Washington apples bring, they also support several important services. This is the time of year when the local Lions Clubs sell apples to raise funds for the Mary Bridges Hospital for Children, children’s diabetic research, The Lions Low Vision Resource Center, scholarship funds, ramps for wheelchairs, The Little Red School House, vision screening at schools and more.
We support the environment with our recycling plastic program, donate to the Thurston County Food Bank and other homeless shelters, and work with the Union Gospel Mission to provide glasses and hearing aids for our low-income residents.
While the Olympia Host Lions Club is the leader in this effort, almost all the Lions Clubs in our district participate and share in the profits for their communities. For more than 30 years, Lions in the greater Olympia area have sold apples each fall to fund service projects in the community.
Thanks to many hundreds of happy repeat customers, the sale has grown from a few boxes sold out of a Lion's carport to a hugely successful fundraiser delivering thousands of boxes of apples each year.
Today, more than two dozen Lions Clubs in towns from Poulsbo to Kalama join in to offer their customers fresh eastern Washington apples delivered to their door. Youth groups - like the Olympia area Sea Cadets - often join in to help and raise money for their own projects. Every dime we bring in goes back into the communities we serve.
Every year, the Lions also support the younger group of future Lions, the Leos, providing a summer camp for diabetic children geared to enable these special kids to have a safe place to participate in activities just for them, where everyone is on the same page.
It is hard to put into words the feeling you get from helping someone. Whether it is empowering them to see and function independently at home, making it possible for a child in the hospital to hug a teddy bear when alone at night, or begin a new school year with the supplies needed to get off to a good start, words can’t really describe that warm and fuzzy feeling deep down inside that accompanies these actions.
The apples sell for $50.00 for a 40-pound box. If you can’t use the whole box yourself, you can still help. Donate a box to the Thurston County Food Bank, Salvation Army, local pre-schools, or churches providing meals for the homeless. Or just share with a friend or neighbor.
If you go to our website below, you can order by using your debit or credit card or find the address to send a check. Apples will be delivered to you or the donation spot of your choice.
And thank you for your support – from us and your community. Click here for more information.
Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia. Contact her at kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comments.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here