Lake Lenore’s downtown was buzzing last Friday as several hundred people visited over a period of a few hours for a very important cause. The Lake Lenore Lions Club, the Lake Lenore Service Club and the Lake Lenore Co-op banded together for a noon hour burger and baked goods raffle in aid of Ukraine Relief. 

Beryl Bauer is the coordinator for the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF). Lions Clubs International has 1.4 million members around the world dedicated to supporting local, national and international causes. The Lake Lenore effort is part of Campaign 100, a world wide initiative by Lions International  to raise $300 million in three years. The COVID pandemic necessitated an extension to four years for the campaign which has already raised $292 million worldwide to date.

Among its eight supported causes are childhood cancer research, humanitarian needs, and disaster relief, among others. 

The current humanitarian cause that LCIF is focussed on is the plight of refugees from Ukraine as the military attack on that country continues. There are 11 countries immediately around Ukraine with Lions Clubs. Clubs in those countries have applied for grants to support their efforts with incoming refugees, explains Bauer.  Approximately $1 million in funding has been provided to Ukraine relief through this channel in the last 40-45 days.

beryl bauer and chad robergeBeryl Bauer of the Lake Lenore Lions accepts a donation on behalf of Discovery Ford from Chad Roberge.

The baked goods raffle raised over $1300 alone. Along with the bake raffle and burger sale, Humboldt and area businesses and individuals have been generous with donations to LCIF through the Lake Lenore Lions either during the event or prior to it. These donors include Discovery Ford, Aaron Behiel, Dr. Elias, Dr Dhir, Schuler Lefebvre Funeral Home, Malinowski and Danyluik, along with many other generous individuals from Lake Lenore and area. In total over $11,000 was raised between donations and the event itself which saw over $6,000 come in.

Lake Lenore School was represented by students who decorated the tables with beautiful yellow and blue sunflowers, all symbolic of the country whose residents are reeling under the siege.

Bauer says that he and the local Lions Club wanted to show what other clubs and organizations could do with effort and support from their communities. Lake Lenore’s spirit shone on Friday giving credit to the Lions Clubs’ motto: “Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.”