Plainfield Lions Club To Go On Gift Card Giveaway This Saturday

PLAINFIELD, IL — This Saturday marks the 70th anniversary of a Plainfield Lions Club holiday tradition: the annual 'Christmas Basket Delivery.' This year, as for the past 25 years, there will be no actual baskets delivered. Instead, the group will be handing out Jewel grocery vouchers to community families in need.

"We did away with the actual food about 25 years ago and went to the gift cards," the event's chairman, Larry Wiers, said, "just because trying to catch people at home, making sure the food is fresh [is difficult]."

The club finds the families it plans to help through a number of sources, including churches and social service organizations, Wiers said. This year, they plan to distribute just about $27,500 worth of the Jewel cards to about 152 families, the most in Lions Club history. The money for the cards came from a number of fundraisers held throughout the year, Wiers said, including a spring dinner / silent auction, a summer golf outing, a fall candy drive and nut sales during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The club also received funding from community donations; neighbors looking to help neighbors.

"All the families are inside Plainfield District 202 boundaries," Wiers said.

While December is often the time of year people feel most eager to help their fellow man, Wiers said that non-Lions Club volunteers would not be allowed to join in the Basket Delivery, with the possible exception of members' family or close friends. He said this was both because the delivery teams - about 50 people total - have already been put together, and because the club wished to preserve the dignity of those who will receive the vouchers.

"We are very strict about confidentiality, because certainly these families are proud families," he said. "that's also why we'd rather not have any photographers there."

However, anyone who wishes is still welcome to donate to the Lions Club's efforts, or to join themselves. Indeed, Wiers said that many who receive food vouchers from the Lions one year, often turn around and donate the next.

"The stories are incredible. Some years we hear back from the same family that we helped in a previous year and they will send us money and say 'we got back on our feet, here's some money to help someone else.'" Wiers said.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Lions Club's charitable efforts in the coming year can send checks, made payable to 'Plainfield Lions Charities,' to Lions Club PO Box 141 Plainfield, Il 60544. Those wanting to take a step further and join the Lions Club can call Wiers himself at 815-436-4775.

"We know we have touched [families in need] in a very real way and hopefully lightened their burden during this holiday season," Wiers said.