Lots of rain means more laundry for Loads of Change

 

Shauna

We spent $632.50 ($45 in Lions donations) at today's Loads of Change, which benefits North Kitsap unhoused and low-income people.

We served 46 people, washing 103 loads and drying 114 loads at The Village Laundromat.

Thank you to Lions Dennis Tesch, Dennis Deitch, Lee Metcalf and Terry Blais for their help. Thanks to Laurie Sarver for dropping off a handmade scarf and some detergent pods. And special thanks to Ray and Ria McMahon for their monthly dedication to this Lions service project.

#cleanlaundry #3rdWednesday #poulsbolions #weserve

 

Kelly

 

Why Lions?

 

Clean laundry coming up

 Weather permitting, laundry day will happen tomorrow from 2-6 pm at the Village Laundromat!

 

First flags of year taken down

 Our first flag set-up and take-down of 2024 is in the books! Many thanks to the Lions who helped. It takes six Poulsbo Lions to set up the flags along Front Street, Viking Avenue and Highway 305. Then it takes another six to take them down. This is an annual fund-raiser for our club, with each business paying $50 for an entire year of flags being set up and taken down on 11 different holidays.

#poulsbolions #weserve #welovenewmembers

Volunteer Sylvie Blais helped take down flags on Viking Avenue

 

Our club averages two pairs of eyeglasses per week

Did you know: Lion Pat Osler averages 2 vouchers a week for eye exams and eyeglasses. Individuals need to qualify by filling out a form at Fishline Food Bank. The need has increased from last year.

#poulsbolions #sight #eyeexam #weserve

 

 

We're collecting "stuffies" all year long now

 

Poulsbo Lions collected 67 new stuffed animals for the kids at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital.

Our club is collecting year 'round now. If you'd like to donate a new stuffed animal, please drop it off at John L. Scott Real Estate on 10th Avenue. #stuffies #poulsbolions #kidslovecritters #makeemhappy

Dunmire earns blue vest

Congrats to Gretchen Dunmire on earning her blue vest, which she received at today's Poulsbo Lions meeting.

 

Bellringer reaches more than $15,000

Our Poulsbo Lions Bellringer Fund has reached $15,300 as of today! Contributions may still be made. They will benefit Fishline, ShareNet Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul, The Coffee Oasis and American Legion Post 245. You can donate below, or by mailing a check to: Poulsbo Lions, PO Box 1244, Poulsbo, WA 98370.

 

Lions bring eyeglasses and more to San Pancho, Mexico

Poulsbo Lion Martina Ferguson-Hazen recently traveled to San Pancho, Mexico, to help give out reading glasses, sunglasses, and glass cases for 3-1/2 days of clinic. Lion volunteers bring totes filled with supplies to give out, needing to speak some Spanish while testing people's eyes and giving them eyeglasses we've collected and refurbished. This time, 780 people showed up for vision help.

These eye exams and glasses are so meaningful in areas such as this.

People were happy with a nice selection of sunglasses.

People could select cases to keep their eyeglasses and sunglasses in good condition.

Sunglasses are needed in such sunny places.

A little girl gets the gift of sight.

Lion Martina Ferguson-Hazen and fellow volunteers.

 

New year, new calendar photo

Happy New Year! This amazing photo was taken by Mark McKnight and is in our 2024 NK Photo Calendar for January. We still have a few calendars left. If you'd like one, please leave a comment. Each calendar is $10, and includes 13 months of gorgeous photos taken in and around North Kitsap.

 

Lions feel loss of Tom Stark

 

 

We're sorry to say we lost a great Poulsbo Lion in Tom Stark, 82. He died Dec. 11. He was a fun guy with a great sense of humor.

Tom's twin brother, Jim, was also a Poulsbo Lion who passed away many years ago.

A service was held at Central Kitsap Presbyterian Church Dec. 22, 2023. Donations can be made to the Central Kitsap Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund or the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA

Poulsbo Middle School LEOs spread joy

 

From LEO club advisor Kate Cox-Ebert
The Panther LEO Club ran a Teddy Bear Drive to gather new stuffed animals to give to children undergoing treatment at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital during the holidays. They gathered over a dozen bears, dragons, puppies, and koalas to add to the 50+ toys gathered by the Poulsbo Lions Club.

The LEOs are also holding a Winter Warmth Drive to benefit Georgia's House, a shelter facility in Kitsap County providing refuge for families in need. We just completed our first delivery of "wish list" items last week, and will do a second delivery after the winter break. So far, students have collected over 150 lbs of "wish list" items from clothing to cleaning supplies.

#WeAreNKSD #BestStudentsEverNKSD

Merry Christmas!

 

Happy times for Loads of Change clients

 

McQuinn was overjoyed to receive a special Christmas card with $100 bill inside.

Shauna couldn't believe her luck!

Mike gratefully gave hugs for his card

It was a memorable Loads of Change today as three clients went home with $100 each for the holidays. Numbers we're drawn at 3 pm, 4 pm and 5 pm. You can see the photos below.

Poulsbo Lions spent $373, serving 28 people with 66 loads of wash and 72 loads in the dryer.

Many thanks to Ray and Ria McMahon for their service tonight, Dennis Tesch, Lee Metcalf, Terry Blais and Dennis Deitch.

Laundry day for unhoused tomorrow

One more sleep and then it's time to do the laundry for the unhoused and needy low-income of North Kitsap. Last load should be in the washer by 5:30 pm so there's time to dry it.

 

Join our club!

 We're always looking for good people who want to do great things in our community! You're welcome to attend a Thursday meeting at Vinland Lutheran Church, 2790 Finn Hill Rd. Coffee and water are available. We start at 12:15 and end at 1:15 with fun, announcements and a program in between!

 

Make your contribution count at tax time

 

 

 

Make a contribution to Poulsbo Lions Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund and get a nice deduction on your taxes! Our Bellringer Fund helps with hunger, vision, hearing, at-risk youth, veterans and so many people who need a hand up here in our North Kitsap community. You can contribute online by visiting poulsbolions.blogspot.com and hitting the Donate button, or by mailing a check to Poulsbo Lions, POB 1244, Poulsbo, WA 98370.

Poulsbo Lions sing in style at Christmas party

 

Poulsbo Lions celebrated Christmas with stuffed animals for Mary Bridge Children's Center, good food and drink, and lots of great company at the Clearwater Casino Resort Thursday, Dec. 7.

Sherri tested us with Christmas trivia, and Dori, Elda, Karen and Karl led the singing of Christmas carols, including the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas.

 

Lee Metcalf, Andy Hento, Steve Calhoun and Scott Puhn

Kevin Hogan, Gretchen Dunmire and Beth Olsen

Alan and Michele Grenier

Jackie, Kimberly and Joe Stenstrom

Alan and Michele Grenier, Pat Burch and Ginny Risley

Dori and John Swokowski

Becky and Dave Damazo

 

Guest with Michele Grenier and Laurie Carson

Scott and Bev Puhn

Laurie Sarver and Kim DeArton

Karen and Steve Calhoun

Pauline Ostheller and Ginny Risley

Pat and Sherri Burch

Karen Reitan and Dori Swokowski

Connie Lord, guest, Elda Armstrong

Laurie Sarver and David Risley

Our calendar photos featured at Hot Shotz Java downtown for December

We've got 2024 NK Photo Calendars at Hot Shots Java, 18881 Front St, Poulsbo! They'll be featured for the entire month of December Come and see the beautiful photos and grab a coffee and sandwich.

Calendar Co-Chair Dennis Deitch with the framed calendar photos

We also have calendars available in the following stores: The Maritime Museum on Front Street in Poulsbo, Coast Do It Best Hardware in the Poulsbo Village Shopping Center, Fluff N Stuff on Finn Hill, The Historical Society, Red Apple Market on Viking Ave., Farmers Insurance on Jensen Way, and Hansville Grocery in Hansville.

A merry month indeed

 Jon DeArman's beautiful photo of a decorated Port Gamble Theater was featured in our 2023 NK Photo Calendar.