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 »
