by Cori Hilsgen
Many local residents received a special Easter basket from the St. Joseph Y2K Lions Club when members filled and delivered 49 baskets to children and adults with special needs who live in the area.
Twelve members of the Y2K Lions gathered March 25 at the Church of St. Joseph Heritage Hall to prepare the baskets to be delivered before Easter.
The baskets were filled with snacks, candies, fruit, toothbrushes and toothpaste and other items.
The Y2K Lions have been donating the baskets for more than 25 years. Y2K Lions member Beth Leither has been helping coordinate the baskets for 22 years.
She said it’s so much fun to see the recipients’ reactions when they receive the baskets because “they smile, their eyes get wide with excitement, they say ‘thank you’ and give you hugs.”
Leither said the parents of the recipients are also very appreciative of the baskets.
“We like to see the appreciation that is shown when they receive their baskets,” said Becky Staneart, the club’s first vice president.
“It feels good to make kids happy,” said Sandy Stocker, the club’s second vice president.
The St. Joseph area includes two Lions clubs: the Y2K and the St. Joseph Lions. Both clubs provide service and benefits to the area. The Y2K Lions club was founded in 2000. The organization meets the second Wednesday of each month.
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