Loads of Change hit 5 years

 

Liz and Brandy are two happy Loads of Change participants

Our club's Loads of Change laundromat program for unhoused and low-income people hit the 5-year mark this month. And it was a very busy month. We hit an all-time high of helping 58 people with their laundry, washing 118 loads and drying 100 loads for $650.75 ($176.75 was donated).

 

In order to accommodate more people, we are going to start limiting people to 5 loads each (a big washer is 3 loads, medium washer is 2, and small is 1). We will also try to help people in the order they arrive.

We could use donations of bleach and vinegar, as well as laundry soap (pods are preferred because there's less of a mess).

#cleanlaundry #PoulsboLions #Weserve #keepitclean #laundrylimit

Eight wreaths needed to reach goal of 100 for club

Poulsbo Lions are looking for just 8 more wreath sponsors to meet its Wreaths Across America goal. To sponsor one wreath, it's $17, and 2 wreaths is $34, and so on. The wreaths will be put on graves at the Poulsbo Municipal Cemetery or those who've served our country.

Click the link: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/159876/Overview/?relatedId=0

 

 

Silverwood starts off vision screening committee

Our Vision Screening Community is off and running again, this time to Silverwood School on Oct. 18. Lions Kathy Moncrief, Karen Reitan, Laurie Carson and Steve Calhoun screened the eyes of 69 children, referring 9 on for further evaluation.

Cleaning up Fish Park

 

Two of our Poulsbo Lions - Steve Calhoun and Laurie Sarver showed up with 15 North Kitsap High LEOS to clean up Fish Park last Sunday. #kidsdoinggreatthings #keepourparkclean #poulsbolions #nkhsleos #weserve

Laundry day for unhoused and low-income tomorrow

Coming tomorrow - Weds., Oct. 18, from 2-6 pm - we've got Loads of Change! Free laundry service for unhoused and low-income individuals living in North Kitsap. #poulsbolions #WeServe #cleanlaundry #LoadsofChange

 

Animal sanctuary in Kingston well worth supporting

Our club's program today is a fairly new 501c3 nonprofit called Rewild Refuge Farm Sanctuary in Kingston - https://www.rewildrefuge.org/. They need volunteers and donations of things like hay and money. They have wish lists on Chewy.com and Amazon.com.

These animals - horses, pigs, goats, etc. are mostly farm animals and will live out the remainder of their lives at this sanctuary. You can even adopt an animal!

Just sharing because we think it's really a worthwhile cause.

 

NK Leos at middle school, high school line up loads of projects

 (This is from a District 19N Facebook post)

Poulsbo Middle School Leo Club began their school year activities on October 2. They handed out their community service work sheets and looked at service opportunities for this fall. They did a project for the Quilcene Fiber Festival and are making plans for a fall clothing drive and a Teddy Bear collection project for the Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Other projects include environmental work at Poulsbo’s Fish Park and helping with Poulsbo Parks & Rec Salmon days program.

 

The NK Vikings Leo Club completed an environmental project at Fish Park and are in the planning stages of their fall blood drive and their “Trick or Treat” food drive for the Fishline Food Bank. The NK Leos began their year with the Viking Rush recruitment day on August 16.

Lion heads to Mexico for eye clinics for needy

Poulsbo Lion Martina Ferguson -Hazen is heading off to Mexico Nov. 1-11 to hand out eyeglasses to those in need during a 5-day clinic. Martina, who's legally blind, can also show people how to use a white cane. Our board gave $1,000 for her trip, and an anonymous donor contributed $500.

Last year, Martina made a similar trip and said 750 people were helped over 3 days. #visionfirst #recycleyoureyeglasses #Mexicaneyeclinic #poulsbolions #weserve

 

 

Moncrief newest Poulsbo Lion

Welcome to our new Lion Kathy Moncrief of Kingston! Her sponsor is Karen Reitan. Kathy was born in Jersey and was an Army brat. She married her Coast Guard husband and they have three children and four grandchildren. Moncrief was a 3rd-4th grade teacher at Pearson Elementary from 1984-2003. She's also president of Daughters of Norway. #welovenewmembers #poulsbolions #yellowvest #weserve

 

Mum sales raise more than $2,700 for Loads of Change program

Thank you to all of our Lions, friends, family and fans of Mums! We made more than $2,700 for our Loads of Change laundry program for the unhoused/low-income last month, including a couple of donations.

We can't thank Valley Nursery enough! The good people there have helped with our past couple of tulip fundraisers and now this mum one - with great success. Please support Valley Nursery!
And thanks again.

 

New month, new calendar photo

 This photo by Marianne O'Keefe is our October calendar month. It was taken at Point No Point.

 

Loads of Change serves 54 needy individuals

Poulsbo Lions spent $521 ($73 of that was individual Lions' donation) on this month's Loads of Change.

We helped 54 unhoused/low income people wash 92 loads and dry 97 loads.

 

Thanks to Michael from Georgia for buying 10 pizzas for everyone!And special thanks to Ray and Ria McMahon for volunteering every month. Also helping was Terry Blais, Dennis Deitch and Lee Metcalf.

 

 

Two more sleeps till laundry day

Laundry day is coming up Wednesday, Sept. 20! This is for North Kitsap residents only - unhoused and low-income please. Last load of wash goes in at 5:30 pm if you want to get it dried.

 

Dunmire a welcome addition to our club

We're happy to announce new Poulsbo Lion Gretchen Dunmire. Gretchen was inducted at today's meeting. She was born and raised in Poulsbo, graduating from North Kitsap High School in 1986. She is sponsored by her mom, Lion Beth Olsen (her late Uncle Doug Mong was a long-time Poulsbo Lion, as well).

Gretchen has two daughters. She worked for 35 years as an executive assistant, but turned to contract work 2 years ago.

Welcome to the club!!! #newmember #poulsbolion #weserve #3rdLionsamefamily

 

 

Flags set up for Patriot Day

 American flags for Patriot Day.

Viking Way

And on Front Street

More flags can be found on Highway 305

Mums for sale in front of Les Schwab on Viking Avenue all day

We just picked up more mums from our fabulous sponsor, Valley Nursery, so come on down to Les Schwab on Viking Avenue. We'll be here till 5 today and 10-4 tomorrow.

Lion Mum Chairs Karen Reitan and Elda Armstrong (front) with Lion Dennis Deitch in back.

Lion Dennis Deitch with Lion Greg Supancheck helped set out mums along Viking Avenue.

Gorgeous mums from Valley Nursery

Mums for sale over next two days on Viking Avenue

Don't forget - tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 8, 10-5 pm) and Saturday, (Sept. 9, from 10-4 pm) Poulsbo Lions will be in front of Les Schwab on Viking Avenue selling Mums for $10/pot to benefit our Loads of Change service project, which provides laundromat services to North Kitsap's unhoused and low-income individuals. As a bonus, we'll have our 2024 NK Photo Calendars on sale too ($10 each). #comeonby #mumsnottheword #buyamum #cleanlaundry #loadsofchange #poulsbolions #weserve @lionsclub

 

Burgh becomes Leo to Lion and starts college

Our newest Lion has already met the criteria for earning a blue vest! Emalee Burgh received her vest at Thursday's meeting. Now she's off to college! #leotolion #ouryoungestLion #poulsbolions #weserve

 

September brings new calendar photo by Alexis Schroeder

Welcome to September! This colorful photo by Alexis Schroeder is featured in our 2023 NK Photo Calendar. We now have our 2024 calendars in hand and available for $10 each. Ask a Poulsbo Lion to purchase one, or come by our table in front of Les Schwab on Viking Avenue next Friday from 10-5 and Saturday from 10-4 (Sept. 8 and 9).

 

Valley Nursery provides mums for club fund-raiser

Lion Karen Reitan has a variety of mums for you to buy for $10 each. Thanks to Valley Nursery for helping us offer you this great deal. I saw mums at a local grocery store for double the price. Buy from Lions because the money goes to our Loads of Change service project which provides free laundromat services for the unhoused and low income in the North Kitsap community.

To buy your mums, please email Karen at reitan39@yahoo.com.

@lionsclub #LoadsofChange #poulsbolions #weserve #mumstheword #flowerfundraiser #keepitclean