Hamburg Area High School librarian Terri McCarthy, advisor to the Hamburg Area High School Leo Club, introduced two officers of the Leo Club, Leah Bertschy and Taylor Millette to the members of the Shoemakersville Area Lions Club, as well as Wolfgang, a 7-week-old, 40 pound German Shepherd dog raised by McCarthy.
McCarthy received Wolfgang at 4 months old. He is a dog in training to become a Seeing Eye dog for the blind. After it was approved by the Hamburg Area School Board and administration, Wolfgang goes with Ms. McCarthy to school and has been seen at football games. Wolfgang is being trained to walk on the left side and ahead of a blind person. McCarthy has also had Wolfgang on an elevator as part of his training. Later Wolfgang will receive more intensive training at the Seeing Eye headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey.
Leah Bertschy from Hamburg High School Leo Club reported there are presently about 20 to 30 youth involved in the Hamburg Area High School Leo Club. Each Leo is required to participate in two service projects a year. Some of the many projects the Hamburg Area High School Leo Club has done include sponsoring a Blood Drive twice a year; working on Habitat for Humanity projects in the Watertown, New York, Maryland and Virginia, often pairing with youth from Governor Mifflin High School; ringing bells at Christmas time for the Salvation Army; providing gifts for children through the Angel Tree program; a trip to the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey in conjunction with the Hamburg Lions Club; collect pennies to help the needy; help the Hamburg Lions Club during the Hamburg Hamburger Festival; help build a float for the Hamburg King Frost Parade; providing games for the residents at the Hamburg Center; and providing 3,000 Easter Eggs for the Hamburg Area Elementary School children. They also collect soda tabs, cell phones, eye glasses, and watches.
Taylor Millette reported that the Leo Club meets during a club period at school. Any youth attending the Hamburg Area High School is invited to become a Leo, an official organization of Lions Clubs International.
The Shoemakersville Area Lions Club meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday at Hoss’s Restaurant and Seafood House at Leesport at 6:30 p.m. Brian Maroney is the President. Anyone interested looking to provide time and service to the community can contact a member of the Shoemakersville Area Lions Club for more information. The motto of Lions International is “We Serve.”
