Lions Club makes final preparations for Easter egg hunt

Final preparations for this year’s community Easter egg hunt and pancake breakfast were made during the Plains chapter of the Montana Lions Club's April meeting.  

The evening focused on several key issues impacting the local Lions organization. 

One of the most pressing topics discussed was the ongoing decline in volunteer enrollment, a challenge not only for the Plains Lions Club but for many volunteer organizations across the country. 

Lions Club President Steve Spurr addressed this concern, stating. “Our club membership numbers have been declining due to our members have been aging out. Which is from years of service and have paid their dues in service. We just haven’t seen an increase in membership, which is a nationwide issue for any club. Our fundraising has decreased ever since the fair did not renew out contact for the demolition derby, which our club had been doing since 1975. Which was our biggest fundraiser.”   

The Plains Lions Club was first chartered March 14, 1944, and has sponsored many events over the years including Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Wienie Roast, Christmas Parade, Christmas decorations for downtown, student eye screening program, spectacles collection program.  

Enrollment for the Lions Club has been as low as six members and is currently at 10 volunteers.  

Spurr was asked why the Lions Club is important to the community.  

He commented, “We strive for helping and serving our community. We enjoy the events that we are able to put on. It's a joy seeing the happiness that the community has at all our events. My favorite one is the Christmas event. I know this will sound corny, but in all those kids that line up for the parade and come to Greenway, that's a happy memory for them. Some day they will grow up and look back and remember those events and it will bring a smile to their face. And if our club was able to make a difference in those lives that's a win. It’s those folks that remember that doing these things is great for the community and makes them also later in life want to get involved in some way.”  

This year, a new feature has been added to the Easter Egg Hunt at the Sanders County Fairgrounds. On April 19, a pancake breakfast will take place in the pavilion starting at 9 a.m. and serving until noon. 

The breakfast is free for all attendees, though donations are welcome but not required. A special thanks was given to local business McGowan Grocery for generously donating food items to help make the event possible.  

“When we hold events with food, Erika Lawyer and Eric Mecker (manger of McGowans grocery) has always been a huge supporter of the club. She has donated food from McGowans (hot dog roast and this year for the pancake breakfast) and she has donated prizes for the Easter egg hunt from Mountain West (now owned by Stockman’s Bank) for the past 4 years. That has always been a huge help, she is a huge advocate for community events,” Spur commented. 

Following the breakfast, children will have the chance to race through their designated age sections, buckets in hand, to hunt for candy-filled eggs. Among the treasures hidden, there will be two special eggs, each containing a gift card for a brand-new bicycle, generously donated by Stockman Bank. For several years, Stockman Bank in Plains has been a key supporter of the Easter egg hunt. 

Adults will also join in the fun, setting aside their inhibitions to race for candy-filled eggs alongside the kids. However, while adults can enjoy the hunt, they won’t have the chance to win one of the bicycles. 

The Church On The Move has played a vital role in the event's success, with members dedicating countless hours to stuffing eggs with candy and helping staff with the Easter egg hunt and the pancake breakfast. Special thanks also went to Dr. Kathleen Walsh, a Lions Club member, for her generous contributions to the Easter egg hunt. 

For those who would like to donate to the Lions Club can do so at the Stockman Bank or send your donations to Lions Club PO Box 721, Plains Mt. 59859, or call Steve Spurr at 406-826-3510 for membership information.