NEWELL—In small communities, when someone is in need, the locals often show up to help each other. This was the case at the Newell Lions Club Pancake Supper fundraiser to benefit Neil Vollmer on the evening of Friday, September 26. The community packed the NVN Senior Citizen Center to participate in the event.
In addition to pancakes, sausage and eggs, the Tot ’N Twenty Extension Club had a bake sale and there was a silent auction all to help raise funds. “The Lions Club sponsors this—we buy the food and do the work, put together with their family, the silent auction, and then the Tot ’N Twenty Extension Club is doing the bake sale—so we serve pancakes and sausage and eggs,” explained Ken Wetz, Chairman of the Pancake Dinner Committee.
The Lions Club decides who they will help by having those in need reach out and request the help according to Wetz. “We don’t have another one planned right away, but we do this about once a month or so,” he explained.
This fundraiser is for Neil Vollmer who is undergoing kidney dialysis and the medical expenses are mounting. “Neil spent three weeks at the Mayo Clinic, and then he spent time at rehab, and he’s been doing kidney dialysis,” shared Wetz. “Most of the medical expenses have been covered, but they don’t cover transportation expenses. When he (Vollmer) got sick, he went by ambulance to Sturgis, they took him out to the airport and put him on an air ambulance. The air ambulance is not covered—it went all the way to Mayo Clinic—that is horribly expensive.”
Many fellow Lions Club members from around the area traveled to Newell to support the fundraising effort. “We have a couple here from Rapid City—Dick is with the Rushmore Lions Club, and they’ve donated $500,” said Wetz. In addition, Lions Club members from Sturgis, Belle Fourche and Nisland showed up for support.
The Lions Club is an International Organization and is considered the world’s largest service club organization. Locally, there are roughly 40 members in the Newell Club. They meet the second Wednesday of the month. There were about 14 members that showed up to make pancakes and serve the meal.
Read the full issue of the Belle Fourche Beacon by clicking here.
