Rockton Lions spread joy of the season to local families through Wimpy's Fund

Rockton Lions Club members were joined by volunteers who spread joy to 140 families on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, where special deliveries were made through the Wimpy's Fund.

Smiles came to the faces of 360 children who were recipients of this caring act of providing toys, food, clothing, gifts and toiletries.

Because of Wimpy's Fund, around 100-300 families in Rockton, Roscoe, Shirland, South Beloit and Harrison receive an extra dose of help each year.

In the week prior to delivery of food, toys, and clothing, numerous volunteers spent many hours at Apex General Contracting in South Beloit.

In one room, volunteers lovingly wrap presents. They are sorted in a separate room, with wishes filled from a corresponding list.

Another room was filled with food, ready to fill baskets, and bags of canned goods, all assembled by volunteers. All the food is purchased or donated by the Rockton Lions Club and community members.

Volunteers load baskets with ham, bread, milk, eggs, margarine, a five pound bag of potatoes, hot chocolate, syrup and desserts.

Families also receive toilet paper, tissues, toothpaste and new toothbrushes.

Jessica Green is one of the volunteers who has returned every year, for at least the past eight years. "When I first started helping with Wimpy's Fund it was just my grandma and I. Now my younger sisters and my partner Maddie have joined in," she says.

"This has become a yearly family tradition of giving that we all look forward to. I love that we get to share in this experience."

Rockton and Roscoe schools are key supporters of Wimpy's Fund. Local school districts referred the names of families who could use a lift during the season, and verified them all to confirm their need. Parents provided lists of gifts their children might want.

Businesses display tags for community members to adopt a family. Employees in those businesses lend a helping hand by adopting a family or through donations of gifts for families. Extra donations come in from churches and schools, with some also adopting a family.

Several organizations hold toy drives and donate those toys to Wimpy's Fund.

Others have "Giving Trees" where items are collected and donated.

First National Bank and Trust receives financial donations.

A group of core volunteers put the auction together, led by co-chairs Terrie Garlow and Carol Wright. They gather donations and organize both the silent and live auction event. Many other Lions members lend a hand by donating or helping during the auction.

Volunteers work for at least a month to prepare for the auction, with a weekly meeting to plan the next steps, making phone calls to organize and gather donated items.

Volunteers for the delivery day are too many to count: a huge group from the Lions Club, the community, local businesses, school districts, and churches.

The process to make Wimpy's Fund come to life starts in October each year. Rockton Lions Club members and community volunteers spend well over 200 hours each year on paperwork, communications with the schools, and man hours.

“The auction did well this year,” said auction co-chair Terrie Garlow. “The amazing community businesses and individual support with donated baskets and items made it the success it was.”

Wimpy's fund began in memory of former Rockton police chief Everett Vaughn who served as chief from 1977-1981. He was given the nickname Wimpy based on Popeye's hamburger-loving friend.

As Chief Vaughn was helping children cross the street, he would notice that some of them didn’t have gloves, hats and socks. So he took the mothers of those families shopping to buy clothing, groceries and one gift for each child in need. His wife Betty provided Christmas dinner for the families. Over time they added toys into the mix.

Vaughn passed away in 1997 and his friend Jack Stewart took action in carrying on his legacy. Other Lions Club members have teamed up over the years to make the Christmas season special by carrying on this long time tradition.

Terrie Garlow said they had a record number of families this year, which means "over 360 children that had food for Christmas break, and presents for Christmas morning."

Garlow says the outpouring of volunteers for delivery and loading inspires the Lions every year. "We could never accomplish what we do without all of the support that we get every year."