Katie Krell
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
On Saturday, June 5, the Madison Lions Club participated in a fundraiser at Allison Acres. The event was held to raise awareness and funds for both the Disabled American Veterans Charity and the Madison Lions Club by selling produce such as blueberries, squash and zucchini. This was the second time this event has been held at Allison Acres.
Allison Acres is over 200 acres of farmland owned by Hank Allison and managed by Jessica Billy. They grow many things, such as christmas trees, lavender and squash. They also have 36 acres of land for goat farming. Arguably the most popular thing, though, is the 51 acres of blueberry fields, some of which are U-pick.
The Madison Lions Club is a service organization. The International Lions Club, which was founded in 1917, has a mission to “empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Clubs.” With 1.4 million members worldwide, they focus on serving in five main global causes, including diabetes, vision, hunger, the environment and childhood cancer.
The Disabled American Veterans Charity is a nonprofit charity that was founded in 1920 to provide support for Veterans and their families. Some services include providing rides to medical appointments, assisting with benefit claims and connecting Veterans with potential job opportunities. The Disabled American Veterans Charity strives to empower Veterans “to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity.”
On the day of the fundraiser, Lions members helped by picking blueberries, working at the front counter and answering questions about the organizations involved. Lions member Tim Dunn commented about the community’s participation in the event, “We would profusely like to thank them for all their support and encouragement.”
A certain percentage of funds raised by the event was intended to be split between the Madison Lions Club and the Disabled American Veterans Charity, however, the money raised did not meet expectations. Because of this, Allison Acres decided to match what was raised so that both organizations could receive $1,000.