Several businesses and additional service organizations also lent support to the Lions and food drive partner LaVille Elementary School.
“We may be in a recession, but people in this community are givers,” Lions community service chairman Dave Grenert said. “Every year the community has supported our project better than the previous year.
“People are big-hearted when it comes to helping their neighbors,” he added. “I’m surprised (by the level of donations), but I shouldn’t be. I underestimated, but I shouldn’t have.”
The Lions collected enough items to allow each child to select a pair of toys as well as books and stocking stuffers, with plenty to spare.
In fact, a series of long tables, piled with a vast range of toys, greeted wide-eyed youngsters, while large boxes teeming with overflow playthings kept volunteers busy replenishing supplies.
“If people could see the look in those kids’ eyes, they’d understand why we do it,” Grenert said. “You can see their eyes dart all around the room.”
And the Lions Club members expressed particular pride in the local nature of the project.
“All the toys, all the kids came from the community,” Lions project coordinator Dave Court said. “The community’s taking care of their own. The Lions Club is just the conduit; we’re the facilitator.”
The canned goods portion of the project, which amassed edibles for 68 families, received a boost from local Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Webelos.
Stephany Casteel, Girl Scouts Daisy Troop leader for LaVille, took her troop of 14 6- and 7-year-olds to 30 houses throughout the community, caroling for non-perishable food items.
“After they were done singing, the girls would go up to the door with their little hands out for those cans,” Casteel said. “It was super exciting to watch the girls do something to help people. Lakeville-LaPaz, when there’s a need people respond. That’s nice.”
Court said leftover food would be distributed to food pantries at local churches.