Our goal is to help and support families in the community.”

Lion Eric Witt

The Cottage Grove Lions hold meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Carbone’s.

Those interested in more information on the Lions may email cglionssec@hotmail.com or visit their Facebook page, “Cottage Grove Lions.”

“Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.” Ever since the organization was founded over a century ago, this has been true.

Meeting Dec. 9, the Cottage Grove Lions carried on that proud tradition, shopping for gifts at Target to help 70 kids, with 10 from Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and 60 from Friends in Need, the latter a local organization that helps fight food insecurity for area residents. The Lions partner with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and VFW for help to military families with deployed service members, the money for gifts raised both by events the Lions hold throughout the year and a collection at the November meeting which the Club matches.

Organized by Lion Eric Witt and his wife Brenda, the gift giving initiative called Adopt a child for Christmas is 15 years old, helping make holiday cheer for those without. Lion Witt estimated the program this year to have $10,000 towards gift buying.

“Our goal is to help and support families in the community,” Witt said of the Lions initiative.

Once purchased by the Lions from Target this past Saturday, the gifts were brought back to the red VFW Barn and wrapped for distribution to those in need.

The Cottage Grove Lions hold meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Carbone’s, with the Lions organization also contributing to eye glass collection and other worthwhile endeavors.

“Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.”

Those interested in more information on the Lions may email cglionssec@hotmail.com or visit their Facebook page, “Cottage Grove Lions.”