New Richland Lions Club to pass along $15,000 to flood victims

New Richland residents affected by the flood will be offered a free shopping trip at Wagner’s Foods, thanks to a recent $15,000 donation from the regional Lions Disaster Fund. Each of about 50 households will be allotted $291 to purchase groceries and certain types of cleaning products, with the proviso that shoppers should select off-name products.

 

Lions Club members explain the shopping trip is a way of delivering immediate assistance, as opposed to many programs which have turnaround times of days, weeks, or even longer.

 

The disaster fund donation was delivered by Lions Club district governor Chuck Tolzman during a local club meeting held at the Willows restaurant on Wednesday, Oct. 7. While he was there, Tolzman presented an acknowledgment of local club leader Dale Bayerkohler’s 50-year membership as a Lion.

 

Sheila and Justin Arndt, proprietors of the Hartland University Bar, requested that the New Richland Lions pancake breakfast fundraiser this year be held on behalf of John Eustice, who has been suffering from a kidney immune disease for 29 years. The Arndts said Eustice has numerous medical needs and a mounting list of medical costs. He receives blood work twice a week, and has been approved for a kidney transplant. Even after he receives one, though, his compromised blood system will be something he will have to deal with for the rest of his life.

 

Eustice has been helping out at Hartland U for years, said Sheila, describing that he helps set up for events, solicits donations for special causes, and provides assistance with tasks and projects. She went on to say Eustice “prefers to earn” what he gets, and so would not ask to be the beneficiary of a fundraiser. Justin added, “He doesn’t complain about anything.” Eustice is married and his wife has three children.