Free steak dinners and Branson show tickets are just a part of the prizes.
The second annual Ava Lions Club Walk/Run event is getting bigger and better thanks to many fine local merchants, and merchants from Springfield and Branson.
The latest news is that many Springfield restaurants have committed meal passes as prizes for the May 14 event. Other restaurants have given coupons for a free appetizer and others have given food as prizes.
Larry Morrison, Lions Club president, reported that if the cooperation continues at this pace, all participants will not only receive a participant’s packet worth several hundred dollars but will receive additional prizes with the door prize drawings.
Prizes to date include fruit cakes; meal cards from restaurants in Springfield and Branson; special discounts on floral arrangements that will apply through July 10; coupons for chiropractor services; dollars off on department store purchases; oil changes and tire rotations; as well as show tickets that are among the items to be won or given as door prizes on May 14.
Contributions are still coming in and this combined with the Chamber of Commerce downtown sidewalk sale and the farmers market on the square will truly make this a community event.
Only walk/run participants are eligible for the door prizes. The entry fee is $10 plus one canned good, but participants will receive a packet worth several hundred dollars in prizes, food and discount coupons.
All participants are also eligible to win door prizes consisting of dinners, tours and Branson show tickets. That is why it is important to register now. Only the first 500 entrants are guaranteed to receive a packet.
To date there are 32 sponsors of the community event and 75 registrations. Each participant’s packet is now worth over $150 in food, gifts and discount coupons. All participants will also include a T-shirt.
The winners of each age bracket will also receive a trophy.
The walk/run event, as a community event, has been coordinated in conjunction with the farmers market in the center of the square and the Chamber of Commerce downtown Sidewalk Sale by all downtown merchants.
All businesses on the square are encouraged to be open and participate in the downtown event. The chamber is also planning a couple of activities on the square so shoppers and visitors will be able to take advantage of the discount coupons from the participants, the unannounced specials for all shoppers, food and drink and finally topped off by an ice cream cone from the old time soda fountain, compliments of the Ava Lions Club.
It’s time to sign up now! Whether you are a merchant or an individual and would like to contribute a gift or door prize, no matter how large or how small, you are invited to do so. Contact Larry Morrison at 683-0188 or any Lions Club member. The prize will be awarded with your name. All donations to the Lions Club are tax deductible.
This year, the Lions have included a class of “dog walkers” for those of you who want to bring your pet and participate in this event. This is a great opportunity to again meet the people of the community and exercise your pet at the same time.
A local veterinarian is donating a special bag of items for each animal in the “pet walker” class.
Please remember the local food pantry, also. The registration fee is $10 plus at least one canned good.
The Lions, in association with Heart of the Hills Food Harvest are asking everyone to bring at least one can of goods to donate to the food harvest. Please bring more if you can, but every can is appreciated. This is just one of the many projects the Lions use to support the local community. Canned goods may be dropped off Saturday morning at the registration table at the lower part of the city park, down by the swimming pool.
