LIONS CLUB MEMBERS Jim and Amy Neiman pack a box to be delivered.
A dozen La Center-area families received gift boxes of food, clothing and personal hygiene items Dec. 13 through the La Center Casino Foundation’s annual Christmas program.
Members of the La Center Lions Club, including middle school members called Leos, met at the La Center Community Center to fill the boxes and deliver them. Lions Club member Randy Williams said the foundation gave $3,500 with which to purchase the items.
Lions Club members received the names of families in need from La Center school teachers, Williams said.
Shiela Wing, 14, was one of the Leos on hand to help pack gift boxes. It was the third year she’s taken part.
“I don’t like getting up early,” she said, “but I wanted to help. You feel like a better person and I plan on doing it again next year.”
Williams praised the Leos for their contribution to the effort, saying, “You should have seen them working.”
La Center casinos started the La Center Casinos Charitable Fund in 2002 to support the community, said casino spokeswoman Huyen Truong.
“They have been very generous,” she said. “The fund has been quite significant throughout the years. They’ve been supporting the Lions Club since 2003.”
The Lions are just one community organization that receives regular financial help from the casino fund, Truong said.
“They support everything from schools to food banks,” she said.
