Lions to assemble water filters at convention
When approximately 200 members of the Lions District 11-A2 gather for a convention April 1214 in Grand Rapids they will perform a community service by assembling water filters for places in the world where clean water is scarce.
The Business Connect for Water company, based in Grand Rapids, carries hundreds of different water and sanitation devices, from $10 to more than $5,000 in price that help people have what the company considers to be the basic human right to clean water. The company says its filters remove bacteria and protozoa that meet or exceed EPA water standards.
The Lions members come from Macomb and Oakland counties. When the volunteers do the assembly work of Village Water Filters, it saves the company money. The company then ships the filters to various locations around the world.
This year’s district governor, Kelley Unruh, a Clinton Township resident who belongs to the Sterling Heights Lions Club, chose the project for her year as governor.
“We do some kind of service project every year,” she said. “Last year we met in Mount Pleasant and we made tie-blankets. We donated them to a baby pantry in Mount Pleasant for new moms. In prior years we made food kits for meals for students on the weekends. Each year it’s different.”
Business Connect, through its water and sanitation technology, aims to provide dignity and create hope in about 80 countries.
It provided these statistics: More than a billion people in the world live on less than $1 a day. Another 2.7 billion struggle to survive on less than $2 per day. Some walk more than a mile every day to collect water and firewood, and they have diseases that have been eradicated from wealthier countries. Every year, 11 million children die— most under the age of 5 — more than 6 million from preventable causes like malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia.
Unruh said Lions clubs collect food for the Community Food Bank of Macomb County and money for local charities. Contact her at kunruh48@ gmail.com to learn where to drop off food donations, and where to mail checks.
Support Richmond Lions Club charities April 26-27
White Cane Week canister collections take place April 26-27 in Richmond.
White Cane cochairs from the Richmond Lions Club are John Malburg and Bob Szalka who have set the dates and contacted local business locations for permission to raise funds for programs that support the blind and visually impaired. The Lions-Goodfellows recently gave an assistance check to a Richmond Township family whose house burned.“The family was very appreciative of the thoughtfulness shown to their family,” Lions member Keith Rengert said.
Easter Bunny visits Sterling Heights
KidSight, a free, one-second, noninvasive eye test for very young children, is available at the Sterling Heights Lions Club’s Easter pancake breakfast, 9 a.m to noon Saturday, March 23 at the group’s clubhouse, 12828 Canal Road, Sterling Heights. Cost is $10 for adults and $7 for children to meet the Easter
Bunny. Weather permitting, an Easter egg hunt is planned.
Roseville Optimists honor students
As part of a Youth Appreciation project, the Optimist Club of Roseville recently honored students from Steenland, Green, Fountain, Kment, Dort, Kaiser and Patton elementary schools. The students were selected by their teachers.
“The purpose of the program is to recognize the students of the community who truly have an optimistic outlook, care for their fellow students, reach out to help others, and demonstrate a ‘can-do’ positive attitude,” club member Michael Batke said.
Students receive award certificates at a ceremony, and congratulatory lawn signs that are placed at their homes.
The Roseville Optimist Club has been recognizing elementary students for over 25 years. Youth
appreciation is the most popular program sponsored by clubs throughout Optimist International, with more than 2,000 clubs participating each year. Other programs and service projects the Roseville Optimist Club participates in are: scholarships, childhood cancer campaigns, and student oratorical contests.
Students recognized this year are: A’mir Blackwell, Brandon Bowman, Peyton Darr, Kenadie Kopczynski, Karly Lupo, Aaron Maze, Zander Paszkowski, Charles Pope, Shelby Thomas, Rylee Tilney, Neil Trapp, Lola Wilson, Malachi Allen, Audrina Bradley, Jeffery Bradley, Heaven Brown, Yana Fedorchak, Sy’Kyah Howard, Layla Kresek, Kingston Lyons, Roslyn McLaughlin, Sherrod Smith, Zoey Thurmond, Martez Vinson, Jordan Webb, Nevaeh Wilson, Nevaeh Wolff, Ian Baerman, Savannah Dalkert, Delvon Forest, Abel Gibbs,
Claire Meixner, Whedy Ramilla, Royce Robertson, Elizabeth Rowe, Kacey Russ, Kaden Stevenson, Don’Janae Woods, Marilyn Cook, Amelia Hawkins, Geneva Kennerly, Julia Maceri, Amelia Niemasz, Payton Owensby, Flynn Pudlo, Vincenzo Puliano, Hartlyn Randall, Marley Ryan, Richard Alford, Javeon Amos, Nickolas Barba, Dominique Wheeling, Kylie Davis, Khalil Dbouk, Drea McClendon, Opel Radzialowski, Lucy Weakland, William Young, Leona Bailey, Paityn Heussner, Jordan Kyles, Jonathan Lowe Jr., Skylar Owens, Araya Page, Mark Tyrell, Chace Ulecki, Aliyah Adkins, Anthony Donahue, Liam Dressig, Jayon Long, Ivy Lozon, Olivia Simmons, Lena Watson and Zackery Yorke.
Board seeks volunteer nominations
April is National Volunteer Recognition Month. By April 5, the Macomb County Board of Commissioners accepts nominations of volunteers who make valuable contributions to the community. Two volunteers from each county district will be chosen and honored at a reception.
Volunteers must reside in Macomb County or have their volunteer efforts benefit the county.
Commissioners will also recognize a Senior Volunteer of the Year who has volunteered since the age of 60. Nominate a volunteer by completing a form at: macombgov.az1. qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_0wV79veToz51WJw.