Lions Continue Outreach, Good Deeds, Sharing Funds

As they make final preparations for the 12th Annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race, members of Newtown Lions Club also continue to spend time helping others. It is through fundraisers such as the Memorial Day weekends Duck Race, as well as an annual Mustang raffle and other events, that the Lions are able to offer financial help to so many others in and around Newtown.

Lions Club President Ray Keegan and club member Dick Kovacs recently presented a check on behalf of the club to Linda Manganaro, the director of Nunnawauk Meadows.

These funds will be used by the independent living facility to provide social activities and entertainment programs for its residents. Nunnawauk Meadows has 134 units and is situated on 65 acres. Residents are able to live independently due to the fact that the units are on one level and are handicap accessible. Many units were recently updated.

Meanwhile, for more than 20 years the Leaps of Faith Disabled Waterskiers Club has taught the disabled to water ski. Founder Joel Zeisler of Sandy Hook, a former National Water Ski Champion, is often assisted by top-notch guest instructors, many of whom are also national champions.

The goal of the Leaps of Faith Waterskiers Club is to build confidence and fulfillment in disabled children and adults through exposure and professional training in water-skiing. Since 2005 its Wounded Warrior program has also brought fun and socialization through water-skiing and kayaking to disabled Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who have come home with life-changing injuries.

Newtown Lions Club recently presented a donation to support Leaps of Faith. Club member Bill May presented a check on behalf of the club to Mr Zeisler.

Also, five members of the Newtown club recently worked on their yearly Home Repair Project.

The Ability Beyond Disability (ABD) house at 2 Old Hawleyville Road in Newtown was where the men — Jerry Cole, Tom Evagash, Glenn Nanavaty, Walt Schweikert, and Gordon Williams — removed an old sidewalk and laid the foundation for a new one, a major project that also included moving and transplanting scrubs. An upstairs roof window, which leaked, was also repaired.

Each spring, the Lions Club selects a home, which is owned by someone who does not have the ability or the finances to make these repairs, to help with needed repairs.