Poplar Grove Lions Club hosts Recycle Day

By Anne Eickstadt

REPORTER

On Saturday, Jan. 7, the Poplar Grove Lions Club hosted a Recycle Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“I wasn’t sure what time of year to do a recycle day,” Poplar Grove Lions Club President Ron Maxey said. “Then I thought, people have lights on their trees until New Year’s Day. If their lights were bad, they could donate them instead of storing them for another year or throwing them away.”

So, the Lions Club decided to set up shop at Poplar Grove Village Hall, located at 200 Hill St. in Poplar Grove, where people could bring various recyclable items.

“There are quite a few people who have time off between Christmas and New Year’s. They have been up in the attic or down in the basement with their Christmas and holiday decorations,” Maxey said. “So, I thought what better time to get Christmas tree lights than right after Christmas. Recycling is something we should all try to do more of.”

The idea came when Maxey received an inquiry on what items the Lions Club accepts.

“This idea started on Candy Day while I was at Edwards Apple Orchard during Columbus Day weekend. A woman came up to me and asked if the Lions Club still accepted eyeglasses. When I said yes, she replied that she had them in her car and had been looking for someone to take them,” Maxey said. “The Lions Club accepts more than eyeglasses. There are so many electronics that we recycle. It’s a throwaway world. We have a collection site at the Poplar Grove Bank and at the concession stand in Lions Park.”

Now, the Poplar Grove Lions Club has added Christmas light recycling to their list of accepted recyclable items.

“The Poplar Grove Lions Club is the first club doing a Christmas lights recycle day,” Lions Club District Governor Steve Boettger said.

The Lions Club also accepted cords with copper, water bottle caps, keys, ink cartridges, soda can tabs, as well as hearing aids and glasses.

“Our motto is We Serve,” Maxey and Boettger said. “This year, the Lions Club is 100-years-old. The club started in Chicago, and the international convention this year will be held in Chicago. The Lions Club is the largest service organization in the world, with emphasis on sight and hearing. We are always looking for new members.”

The Lions Club does more than people think.

“Many people don’t realize how strong the Lions Clubs are,” Boettger said. “The Lions Club is usually the first on the scene during a disaster. The Lions Club raised over $300,000 for Fairdale after the tornado. The Lions Club in this district is the largest supporter of the Center for Sight and Hearing on Lyford Road.”

Besides servicing the community, the Lions Club also sponsors recreational youth activities.

“The Poplar Grove Lions Club supports youth baseball,” Maxey said. “Lions Clubs in our district take blind kids fishing, skiing, and for horse drawn carriage rides. Lions Clubs have also been the originators of many local festivals such as Old Settlers Day in Roscoe and Kirkland’s four day Fourth of July event.”

Anyone who has recycling questions for the Lions Club can call the Lions Club of Illinois Foundation in Sycamore. Call (815) 756-5633 and ask for Recycling Coordinator Rick.

Find out more about Poplar Grove Lions Club at www.pglionsclub.com.