YACHATS — The Yachats Lions Club awarded college scholarships to two Waldport High School graduates and distributed $20,000 in grants to 14 community organizations during its annual awards dinner Tuesday night.
The club raises money through its busy thrift store, January crab feed, four community breakfasts and other fundraisers throughout the year so it can award the scholarships and give grants to local organizations.
“This is the highlight of our year,” said Lions Club award committee chairman Jim Finlayson. “It takes a lot of work but we have a lot of fun.”
Scholarships worth $2,500 each went to Jacob Quayle and Juda Tysman, who graduated last week from Waldport High.
Four organizations which help fight hunger in south Lincoln County received grants, and all said they collaborate to help each other. They included $1,500 each to the Yachats Food Pantry and Waldport Presbyterian Church, and $1,000 each to South Lincoln Resources and Meals on Wheels.
Waldport Middle School received $1,100 to buy materials for its student support center. The club gave $1,000 awards to the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District to help purchase radios, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Lincoln County, Crestview Heights School for its classroom supply program, and the Oregon Coast Aquarium for its $5 Sunday admission for Lincoln County residents. The 4-H archery club Tidal Targets received $900, and $500 grants each went to the Newport Pokeman Kids Club, Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program, View the Future and the Lincoln Chronicle.
The Yachats club also wrote a $3,000 check to the Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation.
Thanks again and again to the Yachats Lions Club for all that they do for our community. Blessings be upon you.