Lyndonville forms Leo Club for community service
Photos by Tom Rivers: Some of the new members of the Leos Club in Lyndonville are introduced on Wednesday during the Lyndonville Lions Cub meeting at the White Birch Golf Course. The Leos formed last month and will be doing service projects in the school and community.
LYNDONVILLE – The school has a new army of student ambassadors dedicated to community service and good works.
Thirteen high schoolers are part of the new Leos Club, a youth service organization that is sponsored by the Lions Club.
Lyndonville formed the group after seeing the success of the Leos in Kendall. Students also wanted to step up their involvement in serving the school district and community.
The new Leos were welcomed to the regular Lions Club meeting on Wednesday. Lynne Johnson, the club president, said the students will be “a shot in the arm” for the club, which manages many community service projects throughout the year, including a pumpkin carving event on Saturday at the firehall from 10 a.m. to noon.
Aimee Chaffee, Leos advisor
Aimee Chaffee, a special education teacher and AVID instructor at Lyndonville, is serving as the club advisor. She grew up in Lyndonville and saw the good works of the Lions Club, including planning the annual Fourth of July festival, serving people who are blind, providing scholarships and serving in other ways.
She expected students to step forward and want to help in the community and at their school.
“I love these kids,” she said. “They have really good hearts.”
The following are the first members of the Leos Club in Lyndonville: Tamara Huzair (president), Christopher Clark (vice president), Faith Chaffee (treasurer), Shantel Benedict (secretary), Tyler Coyle, Leah Gerety, Dustin Solomon, Savannah Poler, Sawyer Wilson, Jacob Kalson, Hunter Fuller, Nick Hartwig and Allyson Deslatte.
The “L” in Leos represents leadership, while the “E” is for experience and the “O” for opportunity. For more on Leos, click here.
The students will support the Lions Club with some of their programs, including the Christmas tree lighting and celebration on Dec. 3.
“We’re a small club so we’re thankful for the Leos,” Johnson said. “It’s the perfect fit at the perfect time.”
The Leos also have their own programs, including a pet supply drive, where food will be donated to the Orleans County Animal Shelter in Albion. The Leos also are planning events for senior citizens, including a tea and luncheon next Thursday.
Richard Pucher, a retired Lyndonville school superintendent, tells the students they can improve their school, community and themselves through service.
Richard Pucher, a retired Lyndonville school superintendent, used to run programs and events for the Key Club, the youth service component of Kiwanis.
He listed the many programs by the Lions Cub, including the medical loan closet, sponsorship of a Boy Scout troop, cleanup along Route 63, the Fourth of July festival, scholarships and the efforts to help people, locally and around the world, with their sight.
“The reason we do it is to make Lyndonville a better community,” Pucher said. “Hopefully you can make Lyndonville Central a better school and make yourself a better person as you go through life.”
