VERGENNES — Vergennes Lions have placed numerous barrels around the Bristol and Vergennes area to help support the Toys for Kids program. Some of the barrels are at One Credit Union, Shear Cuts, Jackman Fuels, Kinney Drugs, and Dollar General. Every new, unwrapped toy will be going to needy children in this area. Money donated will be used to purchase gift cards for needy teenagers’ gift cards. Toys will be available for parents to pick up at the former Long Trail on the Falls office on Meigs road on Friday, Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. People are encouraged to purchase toys that would help make a child’s Christmas a little brighter.

The annual drawing for the 50/50 Cash for Christmas will be held on Dec. 13, with the winner receiving half of the proceeds (last year’s winner took home close to $3,000.) The other half of the 50/50 will be used to fund Vergennes Lions projects in the Vergennes/Bristol area. Tickets are $10 for 1, $20 for 3 and $40 for 8. Anyone interested can purchase them from any Lion or mail a check with your name and address to “Vergennes Lions Club”, P O Box 94, Vergennes, VT 05491.

Funds raised from all of these raffles help fund eyeglasses and hearing aids for needy folks, accessible ramps to folks’ homes, food for the needy, and donations to many area organizations.  

The club also wishes to thank folks for the many food items donated at the Food Drive at Shaw’s Supermarket before Thanksgiving, which was managed by the Lions and Rotary Clubs. Nearly a hundred families had food provided from this effort.