AURORA, Ill., April 18, 2022 — Aurora Noon Lions Club will donate $1,343 to aid the more than two million men, women and children who have fled the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Arvid Meyer of Aurora, Noon Lions president, said donations for Ukraine were accepted at the club’s annual Easter-eve “Breakfast with the Bunny” fundraiser on Saturday, April 16, at Luigi’s Pizza in Aurora.

Meyer said the donation includes $597 that breakfast patrons stuffed in a donation box, $500 in matching funds from Aurora Noon Lions and $246 from Lion Dick Schindel, who contributed sales from his Dick’s Mini Donuts operation at the breakfast.

According to Meyer, donations for Ukraine will be forwarded to Oak Brook-based Lions Club International Foundation. LCIF is awarding grants to enable Lions to provide immediate relief to refugees struggling to meet their most basic needs. Funds will be used by Lions to purchase medicine and medical equipment, as well as food and water, clothing and other supplies.

LCIF has awarded more than $100,000 in grant funding to Lions serving in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Austria and the Slovak Republic to help support refugees. Additional grants will be awarded to help meet ongoing needs of this crisis, Meyer said.

He noted that Lions volunteers and 30 East Aurora High School students served a record 600 breakfasts to a sold

crowd. East students represented Tomcat Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and DECA service club.

Celebrating their 100th anniversary year, Aurora Noon Lions are among members of Lions International–the world’s largest humanitarian service organization–raising funds and staging food and supplies drives to show support to Ukraine through advocacy and outreach.

The breakfast featured all-you-can-eat pancakes with sausages, mini donuts and beverages.

A  team from Elburn Lions Club offered free vision screenings to 45 youth. Of the total tested, 11 received referrals for follow-up diagnosis.

Elburn Lions Stacy Groesch, Karen Rosenwinkel and Donna Hartman performed tests with a portable Spot Vision screener. After each test, persons tested received a one- page summary including the vision assessment and screening results for informed decision making.

For the first time, the event featured an outdoor egg hunt at 11 a.m. At the breakfast, the Easter bunny posed for photos with guests. Noon Lion and Luigi’s owner Bill Poss donated egg-shaped pizza kits for each breakfast purchased.

Founded in 1922, Aurora Noon Lions Club meets on the first and third Thursdays at Luigi’s Pizza, 732 Prairie St. in Aurora. Prospective members interested in community service are invited. Call (630) 921-1307 or visit auroranoonlions.org for more information.

With the motto “We Serve,” Lions volunteers focus on supporting causes including hearing and vision impairment, hunger, the environment, diabetes and childhood cancer.

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. Some 1.42 million members in more than 48,000 clubs serve in over 200 countries and geographic areas worldwide.

Since 1917, Lions have strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects and extended service impact through the Sycamore-based Lions Clubs International Foundation. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit lionsclubs.org.

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Al Benson

Freelance Photo-Journalist

Al Benson is an Aurora-based freelance photo-journalist. He is currently an archives research specialist at Aurora University. His work has appeared in The Voice, The Daily Herald, The Beacon-News, and the Chicago Tribune.