Lions Serve 179 Free Senior Citizens' Dinners
The Monticello Lions Club's 26th-annual Ron Milton Memorial Senior Citizens Dinner was served to 179 people over 65 (with addresses in the Monticello School District) on Sunday, November 4, 2012. The event is named for the late Lion Ron Milton, who chaired the event for 20 years. The Lions had served the free turkey dinner on the first Sunday in December for many years. This year the event was rescheduled to the first week in November to avoid the bad weather of early December. This year's chosen day was beautiful.
Lions delivered about two dozen of the dinners to shut-ins. The rest of the dinners were served in the cafeteria of the new Monticello Middle School. There is easy access for senior citizens from the adjacent parking lot. The Lions were assisted in serving the dinner by members of Boy Scout Troop 490 and members of the Monticello High School FFA Chapter. Both organizations receive financial support from the Monticello Lions, who are the sponsors of Troop 490.
The Lions roasted 14 turkeys for the event. They were then carved by the Lions, who also manned the serving line in the cafeteria. Lions began cooking at 5 a.m. The substantial cost of food for the dinner is paid with funds raised by various Lions activities such as their fish fries, peanut brittle sales, and donations.
Monticello Lions Give $1000 To Lifesavers
The Monticello Lions Club has donated $1000 to Monticello High School Lifesavers to assist them in their peer-counselling efforts. The Lifesavers are about 65 Monticello High School students who are trained to offer counselling and support to fellow students. The Monticello Lions grant will provide training for additional members.
Monticello, Illinois, Lions Double Local Scholarship Grant
The Monticello Lions Club has awarded scholarships to Monticello High School graduating seniors for many years. The grant is $500 per semester per student, for eight semesters as long as satisfactory progress is made in the course work. The club had previously budgeted $2000 per year to fund these. The Monticello Lions recently decided to double this funding to $4000 annually so more scholarships can be awarded. Details on applying for the Monticello Lions scholarships are available from the Monticello High School Guidance Office. The Monticello Lions Club raises money to fund these scholarships through their fish fries, bike ride, and other fundraisers. The club meets every second and fourth Monday in the Monticello Community Building and welcomes new members.
Our Projects
Monticello
Lions conduct a number of projects each year to raise money which is
spent locally to help people. $4,000 in scholarship money for further
education is awarded each year to Monticello High School graduates.
$1000 is given to Mary Bryant Home For The Blind in Springfield. Periodic
gifts are made to Leader Dogs For The Blind in Rochester, Michigan,
which is mostly funded by Lions in Michigan and Indiana.
The Monticello Lions also buy eye exams and glasses for those in the
Monticello school district who could not otherwise afford them. Campers
are funded to diabetes camp and to the annual Weldon Fun Day for special
needs children. The first Sunday in December, Lions serve a free turkey
dinner, with all the trimmings, to all senior citizens who want one.
If the senior cannot attend the dinner at the Monticello Middle School,
the dinner will be delivered by Lions volunteers. The Ron Milton Senior
Citizens' Dinner is named after Ron Milton, a life-long Monticello
Lion who started the tradition and chaired the project for many years.
See our events schedule to attend these events and more!
Fish Fry
Monticello Lions continually work, themselves, to raise money for these causes. A fish fry is held one Friday most months in the Monticello Community Building (watch for the signs).
