Aurora Noon Lions Club will be host to a drive-thru Christmas gift giveaway for hearing impaired kids Saturday, Dec. 12.
Arvin Meyer of Aurora, Noon Lions president, said the event will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Luigi’s Pizza and Fun Center, 732 Prairie Street in Aurora.
Meyer said about 60 children from 30 Aurora-area families in East and West Aurora school districts are registered. Gifts will include stuffed bears, toys, games, clothing and “A Family Christmas,” a hard-cover book by Caroline Kennedy. Noon Lion Barb Javaras of Aurora donated the books.
Additionally, the Lions will donate $10 gift cards from Luigi’s Pizza and Jewel-Osco has donated chocolate holiday candies.
According to Meyer, Lions volunteers will gather at Luigi’s to assemble gift bags before the event.
The party and gifts for children are sponsored by the Noon Lions in partnership with the Sycamore-based Northwestern Illinois Association, a regional special-education cooperative.
Due to the pandemic, the drive-thru replaces a 10th annual holiday pizza dinner and visit from a Santa’s helper who used American Sign Language to distribute gifts and talk holiday wishes with deaf and hearing-impaired kids.
Founded in 1922, Aurora Noon Lions Club meets on the first and third Mondays online on Zoom since March due to the pandemic. Prospective members are welcome. Call 630-892-8045 for more information.
With the motto “We Serve,” Lions volunteers focus on supporting causes including hearing and vision impairment, hunger, the environment, childhood cancer and diabetes.
Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world. Some 1.42 million members in more than 48,000 clubs serve in more than 200 countries and geographic areas worldwide.
Since 1917, Lions have strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects and extend service impact through the Lions Clubs International Foundation. For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit lionsclubs.org.
—Al Benson