Plainfield Lions Reach Record Families With Christmas Basket Program

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Plainfield Lions Club reached a record 181 families with its annual Christmas Basket program.

The organization helped a total of 947 people in the Plainfield area with $38,675 in Jewel gift cards, according to a news release. A group of 60 Lions and friends got together Dec. 16 to deliver the certificates to the 181 families.

"We know we have touched them in a very real way and hopefully lightened their burden during this holiday season," Event chairman Larry Wiers said in a statement.

In the 25 years Wiers has served as chairman of the event, the club has helped more than 15,000 people with upward of $411,000 in food gift certificates, according to a news release.

"I'm incredibly proud of the Plainfield Lions Club and grateful for the extraordinary generosity of our very own members and the 28 community donors who sent donations," Wiers said.

In the past, the club donated physical baskets of food from Jewel but later switched to gift cards. Plainfield Lions conduct fundraisers throughout the year to fund the Basket program and other outreach efforts, including providing eye care and hearing aids to those who need them.