- By Dan Veaner
- Around Town
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"They've done very well," says resident Eileen Cundy. "They always do a good job. I'm really pleased that they do this for us." Another resident, Pastor David Braid agreed. "They do a wonderful job," he said. His wife Dorothy added, "They're wonderful young people. We can be proud of them here."
Katy Hartz, Mark Hogan, Matt Hardesty, Brian Strep, Mirna Rakov, Shana Osborn, Haleigh Ruzicka, Todd Corbin, Travis Miller, Katie Hranek and Diane Smith were on hand to cook and serve the dinner. This is the second meal they've brought to Woodsedge this year. "This is our first spaghetti dinner, but we did a pancake breakfast a couple of months ago," says Hartz, the club's president.
"They're a wonderful bunch of kids that enjoy serving the community," says Noni Krom, the Lansing Lion who advises the Leos. "The kids make everything. They buy everything and bring it. They raise money by serving dinner at the Lions Club meetings, getting a dollar per serving. Then they use the money for events like this."
Leos introduce themselves
Krom says the club is always looking for new members. This year she says the majority are sophomores. Hartz is a senior who is in her third year as a Leo. "I've always liked helping out the community," she says. "I think it's fun to put on projects for people." She plans to continue service work when she goes to college next year. Mirna Rackov has been a Leo for 2 years. She was looking for a service club to join when she got to High School.
Just over a year ago the Leos won the Tompkins County Distinguished Youth Award. They received a plaque from then Lansing Legislator Thomas Todd, as well as a gift certificate to Purity Ice Cream and a first aid kit to bring to their events just in case. He told the legislature, "They have been active in many community service projects in the community, such as preparing meals at the retirement home, big brother/big sister program with tutoring in the Middle School, bell-ringing for the Salvation Army, highway cleanup, and food distribution to the needy."
Most people aren't aware of the projects Leos take on, because they volunteer for the love of helping the community, not for publicity. They take on projects large and small, including planting flowers at the entranceway of Lansing High School and highway garbage cleanup. This year they are considering giving a scholarship to a senior and they want to invest in things for school, perhaps a calculator in the library, or repairs on the tennis court.
Last year they hand made Christmas cards which they put on residents' doors at Woodsedge. They also provided food for a needy family both at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year they mowed the lawn in the North Lansing Cemetery. They try to plan a big project of giving about once a month.
Dorothea Schrader and Ruth Wobig shared a table at the dinner. "I think this is a wonderful event that the Lions Club kids put on for us," said Schrader. When asked if the Leos are planning more dinners this year Hartz said, "Yes, hopefully, because we like to come up to Woodsedge."
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