It may have been Pearl Harbor Day, but 95 area children got a head start on having a great Christmas as part of the Wahkon-Izatys-South Harbor (WISH) Lions 5th Annual Kids Shopping Trip Sunday morning at the Target Store in Rogers.
Nineteen area Lions and 42 volunteers took "wish lists" from area families, grabbed some holiday spirit and headed out on a "dream" shopping trip. The children live below the poverty line and many aren't able to enjoy the kind of Christmas the average American child does.
"This is awesome," yelled Kevin(last name withheld), 7, as he grabbed his favorite WWE Wrestling Toy box off the shelf and ran toward his cart with a huge smile on his face. "When can we go home?"
Fortunately, for Kevin and the rest of the kids, there was plenty of adult supervision on hand to ensure the kids got needed items like sweatshirts, winter coats, boots, gloves, underwear and basic necessities. These are the kind of things they really need and the reason the Lions are so fierce about doing the event each year. Each child did receive a $15 toy.
In all, the WISH Lions donated more than $12,000 toward the children, who ranged from age 5-15. Those under age 5 were kept home and volunteers and Lions members shopped off lists provided by parents for this event.
To bring an event of this magnitude together took a ton of work. Lions members Judith Malmgren, Julie Wilsey and Barb Erickson spearheaded this year's event, doing the "lion's share" of the planning and coordination. WISH Lions have donated more than $50,000 for kids shopping in the last 5 years.
Both Isle and Onamia schools had key staff help in the planning process, identifying qualifying students and helping transport the kids to and from the event. Both schools even sent honor students to help in the bagging process, a nice community service add-on!
An equal-partner in making the event a huge success was Target Corporation. The Rogers Target gave the shoppers a 10 percent discount on purchases across the board and provided both volunteers and kids with a free hot dog, popcorn and pop after shopping.
Lions Club President Gary Groen was beaming with pride as he stood at the end of one of three checkout lines that Target designated for the kids shopping. "This kind of a thing brings a tear to your eye," Groen said. "These kids just appreciate this so much."
The WISH Lions, unlike most other Lions clubs, don't receive gambling revenue and raise its entire yearly budget at its annual golf charity tournament. This year's event will be held once again at Fiddlestix Golf Course in Isle on June 28th, starting at noon. Last year, 28 teams participated helping the club raise more than $17,000. WISH Lions donate much of the rest of their annual proceeds toward area charitable causes.
For more information on how you can become a WISH Lion or donate to their cause, please visit their website at http://wishlionsmn.lionwap.org/. And as Lion's Club Secretary Mike Wehking said to the volunteers before they began to shop Sunday morning, "Merry Christmas!"
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