MANSFIELD — Moments after accepting a $3,000 donation for personal protective equipment, members of the Mansfield Fire Department showed the reason for the need.
As fire Chief Steven Strickling and representatives from the Lions Club were being interviewed outside Station One at 140 E. Third St. on Monday evening, an alarm sounded.
“That’s why we take the photo first,” Strickling told the assembled group as as a rescue squad rushed off to a resident in need.
The fire department — which began Monday by gaining four new firefighters — ended it by accepting the funds from the Lions Club International Foundation on behalf of the county’s eight Lions organizations — representing Bellville, Butler, Butler Lioness, Lucas, Madison Township, Mansfield United, Ontario and Shelby United.
“We’re happy to have the Lions Clubs reach out to us,” Strickling said. “They told us they had some disaster money available and we were very happy to hear that.”
Like first responders around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mansfield Fire Department has seen a huge spike in the need for PPE, including masks, gloves and gowns.
“This pandemic is something we weren’t ready for, you’re never ready no matter how much you think you are,” he said. “We will spend this money and probably rather quickly. It will greatly benefit our department and we are very appreciative.”
Several of the county’s Lions Clubs were represented, including Carolyn Brook from Bellville, the international district coordinator for the foundation awarding the money.
“We got a grant for $10,000 and part of that grant is going to the Mansfield Fire Department,” Brook said. “We are proud to present this check.”
The local Lions, about 200 strong, are part of District 13-OH2, which covers a large section of northern Ohio. District Gov. Kerry Parker from Elyria was on hand for the presentation.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with Brook on the grant, not the circumstances necessarily, but to be able to get back into this community the money Carolyn works so hard to get our clubs to donate,” Parker said.
Lions Club International is still the largest service club organization in the world, founded in 1917 with more than 46,000 clubs and 1.4 million members around the globe.
One of the newer clubs represented Monday was Mansfield United.
“We are brand new and we look a lot different from some of the older clubs,” President Jessica Hill said. “The age of our members is probably 20 years younger than the average club. We are just doing what we can to get out there into the community.”
Jeff Burns, president of the Madison Township club, said his club does a lot of work in the schools and raises money by donating time to the boosters’ club bingo games.
Brook said, “Lions Clubs are well known, but a lot of people don’t know all the things we do. We are the best kept secret, but we do so many things.”
Parker said each Lions Club in the county represents a unique community with unique needs.
“Each of our clubs looks a little different, but they are all about helping individuals and families,” Parker said.
