At the Lion’s Club’s annual Chuck Wagon Breakfast earlier this year, a near
disaster was averted when a good Samaritan helped fix a broken dishwasher.

But more issues have popped up at the club’s building, built in 1991, including
replacing the fire suppression system for the kitchen hood, replacing fire
extinguishers and potentially adding air conditioning.

“The Lions Club is getting older and we’ve got to do things to keep up with the
times,” said Carol Norgard, the building’s house manager. “We don’t have that
much extra in any coffers anywhere. We pretty much run month to month
from our rentals and events.”

Norgard noted the club received a bid for replacing the kitchen hood system
at nearly $4,000, and that while the organization had spare funds in the past,
the 2008 recession has drained reserves in order to take care of basics.

The club is a 501c-4 organization that supports various community activities,
including baseball, softball, Boy Scouts, offering scholarships for preschool
children and sight and hearing programs.

Many of the club’s signature events, such as the annual Chili Cook Off,
dedicate funds specifically for these efforts.

Norgard noted the club’s August rummage sale helped raise more than $1,000
during its first weekend, but that no firm plans are in place to help make the
necessary projects happen.

“Anything people would like to do, they would help,” she said.
For more information on helping the Lion’s Club, call 503-622-4111.