Press release by the Hope Lions Club
In the next two weeks, business owners and local officers will see members of the Hope Lions Club coming to “work their cards.” That means the members will be coming with requests for donations of items to the Lions’ 75th Annual Christmas Auction, to happen December 5-7.
Josie Carlton, the Lions’ Christmas Auction Chair explained further.
“Area businesses and individuals can expect members of the Lions Club to come visit them, seeking their help with donations for the auction. The auction can’t be successful without the long-time continued support of the fine businesses and people of Hope/Hempstead County and even surrounding counties like Nevada, Miller and Bowie,” she said.
The proceeds raised in the auction will go in part toward making the Christmas holidays brighter for local families who have a hard time making ends meet, Carlton said, but will also assist with needs traditionally covered by the Lions when the holiday time ends. “The funds that are raised through the Christmas Auction are first used to provide Christmas food baskets to needy families during the holidays. After that, throughout the year, the Lions provide scholarships, support several local youth organizations and programs; provide aid for the homeless, assist burn-out victims, and other worthy causes,” Carlton said.
“The Lions Club is known for ‘vision’ and that is a big thing we help with. We assist with eyeglasses and surgeries when needed. We help with training sight-impaired people with life-skills. We have helped with hearing aids and diabetic awareness as well,” Carlston continued.
The auction, which starts at the Hope Coliseum at 6:00 p.m each night, from Thursday December 5th to Saturday December 7th, will feature the high-spirited bidding out of donated items, but also the Hope Evening Lions Club will set up their concession stand that, Carlton said, “offers good old fashioned home cooking (dumplings, soups, bbq, frito pies, homemade desserts, etc).”
Whether you provide a donation, attend and buy a meal or an item or do all these things, the Lions Club Christmas Auction is a Hope tradition not to miss.