Twelve Community Organizations Receive Aid from Darien Lions Club

The Darien Lions Club aims to provide aid for those in need. With this year’s finalized list of recipients for the community donations, the club reached its goal. 

Giving a total of $16,500 to 12 organizations this year, the Darien Lions Club awarded money to a variety of organizations, from DuPage PADS to the SEASPAR Golden Eagles. Although several are new and began requesting donations this year, others, like the , have received donations for years. 

“The Darien Lions Club has supported the library for many years with donations, and we’re very appreciative,” said Jamie Bukovac, the library director. “The donations continue to help us serve our community, with a focus to help people with disabilities.” 

In the past, the club has enabled the library to provide magnifiers, electric scooters, large print materials and audiobooks for the visually or hearing impaired.

Besides helping those with disabilities, the club also provides funds for children’s camps, the homeless and others. 

“We’ve always been a pretty big club, pretty generous club,” said Brian Kiefer, the recently outgoing president of the Darien Lions. “We focus more on the community now than in the past.” 

The service organization donates about $15,000 to $20,000 each year to community organizations, Kiefer said. Although it has had to face the economic downturn, the club continues to make donations every year. According to the new president, Lloyd Hemauer, the members were more “creative” because of the economic difficulties, reaching out to businesses and finding more ways to raise money.

Overall, Hemauer said the Club donated to groups that follow closely the Lions Club Charter - to raise funds for the needy - but also looked to aid other aspects of local communities by providing scholarships and more.

“As a public service organization, our motto is to serve,” Hemauer said. “I think it really just bestows a great sense of purpose for us as a community service organization.” 

This year, the 12 recipients received anywhere from $250 to $2,000. With this aid, they will be able to continue their aid for those in need. And that, said Kiefer, is an important aspect of what the club does for the community. 

“I think it’s special,” he said. “It changes people’s lives and if nothing else, it definitely lets people know there are people who care, so it gives a little bit of hope.”