By Karen Milano & Greg Wind.
American Industrialist and Business Magnate Henry Ford once said “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success”. This has certainly proven true for the Killingworth Chapter of the Lions Club International, celebrating 50 years and many accomplishments. One of its founding members Charlie Smith, gives some detail below as to how it all got started.
“Conversations got serious during the Summer of 1970” says Charlie. “Jerry Sheridan and I had discussed this when I was a member of the Madison JCs in 1969. We had heard John Kempter, another neighbor, had been a Lions member when he lived in Durham. Conversations with his neighbors Rich Gruber and Steve St. John were blossoming at the same time. We first met at John`s home, then Tony Bosco`s later to find out how to structure this Club. We all felt Lions Clubs International mission – We Serve was the ideal foundation to start a club where individuals join together to give their valuable time and effort to improving their communities, and the world. A local publication at the time, The Clinton Recorder wrote an article about us forming a Lions Club, and that drew interest from other residents. Our Charter Night in February of 1971 was well attended with 39 members and sponsored by the Middletown Lions Club which celebrated its 90-year anniversary in 2019. John Kempter became our first President with Jerry and I following. Bill Peckham, a recent arrival from the Madison Lions Club, became our first Secretary with Tony Bosco joining us as Treasurer.” (Charter members John Kempter and Charlie Smith still remain active as contributing members 50 years later)
In their first year the club raised funds by selling plastic bags at the River Rd. dump and selling light bulbs door to door. The money was used to purchase an eyesight testing machine for the Killingworth Elementary School. In the fall of 1971, they established their long and continuing association with the Durham Fair by selling fried pizza dough from a tent. The 70s also brought sponsorship of the Killingworth Town Picnic with sky diving entertainment, softball games against the Fire Department, cow chip bingo and beer sales. Longtime residents will remember a much -loved local restaurant at that time, The Country Squire, which provided good food and a private meeting room for the initial twice monthly meetings.
During the 1980s increasing membership boosted fundraising activities. Kids Night Out (KNO) was initiated at the Congregational Church Old Town Hall. A Lions “Lend a Hand” initiative was very active and club members built masonry-walled baseball dugouts at Rocco Reale Field. The still popular Easter Egg Hunt tradition came to be and the Durham Fair fried dough sales were enhanced with the use of several construction trailers converted to Pizza booths. It was during the 80s that the Lions adopted their Christmas Tree Sales event, which is one of their most successful fund raisers to this day. Meetings eventually moved to the VFW Hall on Route 81 when the Country Squire sadly closed. The club adopted social events such as the Fall Pig Roast, which eventually became the “New Member” Pig Roast, and the always lively Christmas Party during the holidays.
Membership continued to increase during the 1990s and the Club collaborated with the Haddam Lions to sponsor Roberts Brothers Three Ring Circus at Burr Elementary School in 1994. It was at this time that the Club initiated the popular Annual Senior Dinner Night event, thanking the town’s senior citizens for their lifetime of contributions to community. It was decided that the Killingworth “Citizen of the Year” Award would be announced at the Senior Dinner and the tradition continues. Thanksgiving and Christmas Food drives began during this decade to fortify the pantry shelves at Helping Hands. Tent rentals become a very successful fundraiser, second only to the Durham Fair Pizza Dough sales. Local Lions organized a community-wide raffle fundraiser which provided $26,000 for a FIDELCO Guide Dog for the blind.
In the 21st Century, the Lion’s Den moved from the VFW to the Madison Rod and Gun Club, and then to the Killingworth Congregational Church in 2013 where monthly Lions meetings are conducted. In 2015 five women were inducted into the club and the first female president Nancy Keyes, was installed in 2020. Two FIDECLO Guide Dog Vans were donated in partnership with other clubs. In 2017-2018 The Lions Centennial Project was the installation of playground equipment at Sheldon Park. Much Lion effort was put into the organization and operation of the 350th Anniversary Town Parade and Picnic Celebration where over a 1,000 community members and families enjoyed a beautiful day at Parmelee Farm.
During the COVID-19 Pandemic the Killingworth Lions have been actively collecting food and monetary donations at the transfer station for the Helping Hands Food Pantry and the HK Backpack Program. In the Spring close to 70 bags of food were picked up from ShopRite in Clinton by Lions members and delivered throughout our town with all safety precautions implemented. Many thanks to Mercedes Riccuiti, Killingworth’s Municipal Agent and Amber Stamm, the HK Backpack Program Director, and to the group of Lions who volunteered countless hours fulfilling the immediate needs of the town’s food pantry and the HK Backpack program. The Lions would like to extend their gratitude to all those who have contributed to these important and vital causes such as our Annual Appeal Letter, Holiday Food Drives in coordination with the Killingworth Women’s Organization (KWO) and Christmas Tree Sales and many who have donated above and beyond especially Mary and George Keithan. A special thanks for support from the Killingworth Division of the Middlesex County Chamber, especially Chamber Chair Franco Piscitelli, the Killingworth Krier’s Editor Karen Milano and Advertising and Designer Lynn Reed.
The Lions members empower each other in ways no one person can do alone. Their mission is to reach and serve the greater population and quickly respond to individuals who need their help on a moment’s notice. “Where there is a need there is a Lion”. This dynamic group of 54 caring volunteers continues to support over 30 service and charity organizations through fundraising events, determined to fight hunger and help those who are struggling due to health, personal or family hardships. The Lions signature fundraisers donate every dollar raised and every item collected back to the community. Since the club’s inception in 1970, the club has raised over $868,000 as of December 2020 and will continue its mission to help those who are in need.
Next up on the community project list is supporting the Killingworth Elementary School (KES) PTO efforts to replace the playground at the back of the school. Through fundraising and hands-on work efforts this project can be accomplished in 2021. Says Nancy Keyes, current President… “We are just getting started as we continue to move further into our 6th decade of service, our commitment to taking action and making a positive impact on our community and the world we live in. There are over 1.4 million people who are Lions world-wide and know the power of putting kindness in action.”
If you are a resident of Killingworth and have an interest in learning more about our club, its members and humanitarian efforts both locally and internationally, please contact Charlie Smith, Membership Chairperson at (203) 430-5887 or email: csmith0701@comcast.net or visit the Killingworth Lions website: www.killingworthlions.org or FB @KillingworthLionsClub.
