View a slideshow of photos taken at the April 15, 2011 dedication of the Ryan Didone Memorial Skate Park in Damascus, MD. [ Donation Form ]

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It was a sight to be seen when the Huang Box Truck backed into the storage area of Damascus Motors on Thursday afternoon.  It was piled high with boxes of food collected by the Rocky Hill Middle School Leo Club – some 3776 items. What a haul!  I understand the eighth graders received the reward for collecting the most cans.  And then on Friday, just as several Lions had finished sorting food for the Thanksgiving delivery, in came that Box Truck again with another load – this time from DHS. Three service clubs at DHS joined their energies for another big collection.  They placed a box in Safeway which was nicely done and I understand, stood at the gate of the football games collecting.  What a great idea!

We selected a menu of foods to deliver for Thanksgiving from the canned goods, purchased peanut and jelly for each family as well as the perishables and a turkey. The Goldstein Family delivered their tastefully baked and trimmed pumpkin bread for each family. Rock Hill Orchard donated apples for each family as well.

From beginning to end, the Thanksgiving Project had 44 Lions, family and friends assisting with making it happen, burning about 185 hours and costing us $ 1,367.00.  We served 30 families all with children totaling  140 family members.

My THANKS goes out to all who participated – wherever you gave assistance from sorting food to packing boxes to delivering the food.  All of which makes the project happen because Lions say “WE Serve!” Thanks to   Lion Chris Fletcher for profiling all the families and Lion Bob Newlin for managing the Food Drives.

Below: Damascus Lions Club members and friends help organize food baskets to be delivered to needy families in Damascus.  Photos were taken at the Damascus Motor Company garage where the food baskets were assembled and delivered.   Photos courtesy of Gary Rogers.[salbumphotos=68,144,3,n,n,taken_timestamp,center,]

*UPDATED* The cyclists rode into Damascus Saturday, June 19 meeting up with their cause to ride -   Lion Aqulla Harris, who has arrived ahead of the cyclists accompanied by Lion Donna Starkweather.  Lion Aquilla had two eye surgeries a year ago in May and is preparing to go back to Michigan for two or three more procedures.  Lion Aquilla was blind in one eye and the sight in the other eye was fading very swiftly.  Since the surgery, she has been able to see out of both eyes  – only she sees double everything. With the next few procedures she is hoping to gain 20/20 vision.  She needs funds  for transportation to Michigan and for lodging while she is there as the procedures are out-patient ones.

Thus the reason the cyclists, who are members of the Maryland Cycling for Sight Lions Club, Inc., were taking a 50 mile ride.  They started at Sandy Spring Sherwood High School; proceeded  to Damascus and then traveling to Laytonsville and back to Sherwood High School  The day was a bit muggy and warm but the cyclists were prepared.  There were 7 of them, two of whom were riding a bicycle built-for-two.

The Maryland Cycling for Sight Lions Club do fund raisers to assist those with sight problems. Their Lions meetings on held online. Their members are from Aberdeen to Cecilton to Alexandria to Laytonsville.

Six  Damascus Lions greeted the cyclist as they came into town on Route 108 with signs welcoming them as well as  having water, fruit and snacks for them.  We gathered around the gazebo at the Park N Ride.  King Lion presented Lion Mike Layman, President of the Cycling Club, a check for $100 to be used for the Lion Aquilla Harris Fund.

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Cycling for Sight: Damascus Stop – June 19,2010