Will County Gazette

            The Plainfield Lions Club, in one of its many community outreach programs, spent the holidays giving out goodies to families in need as part of its annual Christmas “Basket” program.  The Plainfield Lions Club is now in its 72nd year of serving the local community.

            Over the years, actual baskets of food have given way to gift certificates from Jewel Foods, but the club still prides itself on providing holiday feasts for area families in need.  This year the Plainfield Lions assisted 159 families and 845 people in the Plainfield area with $34,250 in Jewel gift cards!

            “I’m incredibly proud of the Plainfield Lions Club and grateful for the extraordinary generosity of our very own members, the Plainfield Friends of Charitable Giving and the 17 community donors who sent donations”, said event chairman, Larry Wiers.  Wiers has chaired the Christmas “Basket” program for the past 23 years.  In those 23 years, the Plainfield Lions Club has touched close to 14,000 people with $341,050 in food gift certificates! “The Plainfield Lions Club is committed to helping those most in need in the Plainfield area, especially during this continuing pandemic” said Wiers.

            Wiers said the organization typically conducts fund-raisers throughout the year to fuel the Christmas “Basket” program as well as other outreach efforts such as providing glasses and eye care to those in need.   

            A crew of 50 Lion members and friends delivered the gift certificates on Saturday, December 18, 2021 providing 159 families with holiday feasts.