Grumpa Joe's Place

The curtain goes up at six tonight, and the show begins. Frankfort Lions present their annual Wurst Fest. I like to call it the “BEST Wurst Fest.” This is the club’s major fund raiser for the year. We have many more lessor drives to make money but the Wurst fuels our charities throughout the year. So many people not familiar with Lions ask me “just what do the Lions do?” My response is a lot, then I proceed to rattle off the list.

What do Frankfort Lions Do?

Typical Activities by month:

January—      Winter Games on the Green

KidSight Vision Screenings begin

February–     KidSight Vision Screening

Sights and Sounds Raffle for Lions Illinois Foundation (LIF)

March             Community Showcase

Blood Drive

Information Table

KidSight Vision Screening

Adult Hearing & Vision screening

Diabetes Awareness

Lighthouse Demonstration

Adult Vision Screening at Founder’s Center

April               Easter Food Distribution: Buy, Pack, and Deliver Food to 25 families

Bunny Breakfast-KidSight Vision Screening

Earth Day Clean Up

Birdies for Charity, LIF

May                 Kick off for Wurst Fest Raffle tickets

Clarendale Vision and Hearing Screening

Lincoln Way Scholarship Presentation

June                Wurst Fest Raffle Tickets

Nominate Club Officers

July                 Movies on the Green, Pop corn distribution

Sponsor Library Youth Group in Lions Peace Poster Contest

Wurst Fest Raffle Tickets

Club Election

President’s Night BBQ

August            Rib Fest Water Soft Drink Sale

PD Night Out Against Crime, Water Distribution and presence

Kick off OASIS second support group for vision impaired people

Farmer’s Market Raffle Ticket Sales

Camp Quality-Cook-Serve Lunch

Wurst Fest Raffle & Dance

September     Labor Day Parade, Distribute flags

Raffle Prize Dinner

PD Health Fair-Vision and Hearing Screening

Diabetes Awareness at Silver Cross Hospital

October          Trunk or Treats, Distribute candy treats

Candy Day Collection on Street Corners for LIF

November      Collect money at Jewel for TG turkeys and food

Thanksgiving Food Dist: Buy, Pack, and Deliver Food to 25 families

December      Polar Express/Park District

Collect Money @ Jewel for Christmas Food

Christmas Food Dist: Buy, Pack, and Deliver Food to 25 families

Christmas Gift Distribution for kids in need

We add to the list as new needs are identified. I have chosen to leave off the names of people with  serious impairments or conditions who we have helped in the interest of their privacy. During the year we contribute to over fifty community organizations and/or organizations that help our residents: Where there is a need there is a Lion.

If you want to join the fun and help Lions to serve come on out tonight to the Chamber of Commerce Wine and Beer Garden located at the corner of Oak and Kansas in historic Frankfort. The Wurst is a German themed social gathering featuring German food, German beer, and German music keeping with the German heritage of the community. The highlight of the evening is the raffle. If you were lucky enough to buy one of the two thousand $20 raffle tickets you may win one of seven cash prizes, the largest being $10,000. That same ticket gets two people entry into the venue for an evening of fun and camaraderie, not to mention a buzz from the delicious German beer.

The Lions kick off the much greater community Fall Festival, recently rated as the third best Craft and Arts Fair in the United States. With over two hundred and fifty thousand people attending over the three day Labor Day weekend. This fest is run 100% by volunteers from the village.

Come out to help the LIONS and have a ball too.

Filed under: Biography, family, Food, Lions Club, Music | Tagged: Frankfort Lions Club, German Heritage, Wurst Fest | Leave a comment »