A Joyous Occasion: Lions Club Holds Christmas Tree Event & Debuts Mobile Health Screening Unit
Alisha Yocum
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Christmas lights lined the entrance to a private event held by Thurmont Lions Club Members, Doug Favorite and Don Keeney, Jr. The lights were sure to put anyone in a festive spirit as they entered their personal residence with a display of over 100 Christmas trees. Themed trees filled each room, from a tree adorned with birds to a tree covered with White House-themed ornaments—there was something for everyone!
Favorite says the decorating begins in October of each year and continues with last-minute preparations on the day of the event. Each year, new themed trees are added, and guests eagerly await their chance to see what creative ideas the two have come up with for this year.
“With all the work we do, we wanted to be able to share it with others,” Favorite said.
Guests are asked to make a $25.00 donation, which this year went directly to the new Lions Club District 22 Mobile Screening Unit, which was displayed in the driveway. A second viewing of the trees will be held in January, with all donations going to Heroes Ridge in Sabillasville, which helps wounded soldiers.
Bob Johnson, a longtime member of the Thurmont Lions Club, was enthusiastic at the chance to show off the Lions Club’s latest way to help the community: the Mobile Screening Unit. For Johnson, this has been a longtime project that has finally come to fruition. “It has been a long time coming,” said Johnson. The Lions District 22-W, which consists of all clubs in Carroll, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties, have been saving for several years to purchase the new unit. The mobile unit will be able to be reserved by any club in the district, with the only cost being to refill the gas tank.
While the first step was to purchase the van, the next steps will be getting the mobile unit wrapped with the Lions Club logo and purchasing all the equipment needed to do the screenings—a total of approximately $240,000. Lions Club International Foundation provided a $100,000 match grant towards the project. The group hopes to have the unit in service by June.
The unit will be able to screen community members for hearing, diabetes, blood pressure, blood oxygen level, and pulse at no cost. Lions Club members staffing the unit will be required to be trained in the screening services. Johnson estimates that the club will need approximately $10,000 to maintain and operate the unit each year moving forward in order to keep the services free to the community.
Johnson says screening for vision, 10 to 15 percent of children who have been screened need corrective lenses. For adults, the percentage increases to 50 percent, meaning this unit could have a huge impact on health within communities in western Maryland.
If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to support the new Mobile Health Screening Unit, mail donations to District 22-W MSU Fund, 2193 Bellemonte Court, Jefferson, MD 21755.
