Mental Health Board Director Designate Speaks to Lions about Crisis Text Line

Lion Kathleen Kern, Associate Director and Director Designate of the Lorain County Board of Mental Health, explained the importance of facilitating access to mental health care and the value of the new Crisis Text Line. The Crisis Text Line is designed to get a person through an intense or emotional period of time, but it is not there to serve as counseling or therapy..Any person may need help in coping with a stressful situation. Reach out by text to communicate with someone trained to listen and respond in a method that is private, secure and confidential.  Just text "4HOPE" to 741 741 to access this service, provided by Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Thanks Lion Kathleen for this very informative program!

Another Lions Night Out -- At Second Harvest

Special assignment:  Pack boxes of food for seniors.

Lions Barry Buck and Bruce Bevan demonstrate the finer points of building boxes.

Always time for goofing off.

A look down the assembly line, with Leo Club member at the beginning.

Back in the big packing area.

Lions celebrate another productive evening of community service at Second Harvest Food Bank on Tuesday, March 28

Lion Bill Evenchik Recognized at District Memorial Service

Lion Dan Smith (above left) stands solemnly with Zone 4 Chair Kerry Parker (2nd from left), and District Governor Steve Cochie as 1st Vice District Governor Greg Hess (at the podium) reads the memoriam for Lion Bill Evenchik and 2nd Vice District Governor Keith Kaufmann strikes a bell.  This impressive ceremony and non-denominational religious service is conducted each year at the Ohio Lions District OH-2 annual convention to remember district Lions who have passed away in the previous 12 months.  Thirty-four Lions were honored this year on Sunday, March 26, at the convention in Sandusky at the Castaway Bay Water Resort.

Sgt. Soto explains why Lorain Police want to volunteer for Project Lifesaver

Sgt. Rick Soto of the Lorain Police Department with Lorain Lions Club's 2nd Vice President Tom Bruno. The sergeant spoke at the club's March 16 noon meeting at Rebman's On the Avenue on the Lorain department's involvement with Project Lifesaver, a project supported by Lion across northern Ohio that has people young and old, who have a propensity to wander, to me found in a short amount of time thinks to state-of-the-art tracking equipment that can detect at-risk people under 24-hour care in their home thanks to special wristbands that send out signals unique to each person. Sgt. Soto spoke of how his late mother suffered from Alzheimer's when he and his sister were young and they would have to go out and look for her. He said all the Lorain officers involved the Project Lifesaver volunteered for this duty because they care for people.

Paul Baumgartner of Lorain County Free Clinic Updates Lions

ABOVE:  Paul Baumgartner, Executive Director of the Lorain Free Clinic, spoke to the Lorain Lions at our March 9 luncheon meeting about the history and future of the Free Clinic, which is celebrating 31 years of service to the needy.  It is impressive to hear about the commitment of local physicians and hospitals to providing free medical care to those in our community who cannot afford any kind of health insurance.  The Free Clinic will be moving to its new location at 5040 Oberlin Avenue in Lorain later this spring.

Leadership Lorain County visits Lorain Lions

Representatives from Leadership Lorain County spoke at the Thursday, March 2, evening meeting of the Lorain Lions Club at Rebman's On the Avenue. From left, Jennifer Gercak, Director of Programs, Marketing & Communications for Leadership Lorain County; Lion Nicole Shinsky of Northwest Savings Bank who was program chairperson for the evening and a member of the current Leadership Lorain County class, and Julie Cruz-Blair, Director of Operations and Development for Leadership Lorain County.