All this month, the Eastpointe Lions Club and its charity, the Penrickton Center for Blind Children, invite patrons of Mike’s on the Water restaurant to tour its Snoopy Museum. Money collected from the museum’s three donation boxes during the month of May will be donated to Penrickton Center.
“Mike (LeFevre) has a different charity for each month that the restaurant is open and we appreciate all he gives back to those in need,” Rhonda K. Furby, district governor of the Lions District 11-A2 that comprises Macomb and Oakland Counties, said. She is also the Lions Project KidSight vice president.
Mike’s on the Water is located at 24530 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores.
Owner Mike LeFevre’s nephew, also named Mike LeFevre, said the museum of about 16,000 Snoopy items has raised at least $30,000 for charities. The suggested donation is $5 to see the collection, but he said that patrons often donate much more for the charity of the month. It is open from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The room is also available to rent for groups of up to 40 people for $100 and that fee is also donated to a charity.
“Mike believes in giving back, especially for children’s charities,” Lions member Kelly Morrin said. “The programs at Penrickton and all the ways they help the children and families really touched his heart.”
Penrickton Center for Blind Children is in Taylor. It was started in 1952 by three families as a day nursery for blind pre-schoolers. Operators then added a five-day residential program and extended the program to include blind children ages one through 12, who have an additional disability such as deafness, cerebral palsy, developmental delay or seizures. There is no charge to families; Penrickton relies on donations.
Lions clubs will often “adopt” a Penrickton child at holiday time and buy gifts often including a special toy that the child easily may play with or learn from.
Other Lions Club events
The Shelby Lions Club’s annual charity event — Fight Night at the Palazzo Grande – Thrilla Gives — is on May 14. The banquet and event center is at 54660 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township. Tickets are: general $200 and VIP $225. Cocktails are at 6 p.m.; dinner is at 7:30 p.m. and the main event is at 8:30 p.m. For information, contact Matt Asman at 586-506-9893. Events over the years have given out more than $300,000 to various charities.
Register by May 25 to receive one package of free diapers from the Sterling Heights Lions Club. Sizes are newborn to adult. The clubhouse is located at 12828 Canal Road, Sterling Heights. Pick up 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 31. Register by sending an email to YRNBF@hotmail.com, or text to 586-604-6907.
Leader Dogs for the Blind of Rochester Hills needs volunteers, age 18 and older, for Bark and Brew, 9 a.m. to noon June 8. It starts with a 5K run through the streets and parks of downtown Rochester and then concludes with an after-race party in the parking lot of Rochester Mills Beer Company. Volunteers help hand out coffee, doughnuts and pizza. Contact Melissa Pletcher at melissa.pletcher@leaderdog.org or 248-650-7116.
Veterans Resource Fair May 12
A veterans resource fair takes place 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, May 12 at Veterans of Foreign Wars Bruce Post 1146, 28404 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores. It is sponsored by State Rep. Mai Xiong. For information, call 517-373-0845.
“As a member of the Family and Veterans Committee, we’ve learned that many veterans and service members lack access to basic dental and medical care,” Xiong said. “This event is an opportunity for our veterans to access free services and helpful resources. I look forward to hosting this important event and meeting with our local veterans.”
Presenters include Macomb Veteran Services with service officers from the veterans service organizations; Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency – Resource Center; Transition Assistance Advisors; the Detroit VA Healthcare System; Michigan College Access Network; Grosse Pointe War Memorial and Michigan Rehabilitation Services.
In 2022, The Macomb County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing May 14 as Hmong Veterans Day. The year 2021 marked the 45th anniversary of the first Hmong families arriving in the United States as refugees after the Vietnam War. Since 1976, thousands settled in Michigan.
Xiong said she is deeply grateful for the sacrifices or veterans, and says there is an urgent need to ensure they receive resources and support they’ve earned — “especially now, as federal funding becomes increasingly limited and vital services are at risk of being cut.”
The proclamation stated that during the Vietnam War, CIA and the U.S. military recruited, organized, trained and assisted Hmong men and boys to combat the North Vietnamese Army and communist Path Lao forces in what was called the “Secret War” in Laos.
Many died trying to help downed American pilots. After the U.S. withdrew its troops, the Hmong faced brutal retribution from the Vietnamese and Lao governments.
On May 14, 1975, the last of the Hmong-Lao soldiers and their families fled Laos for the Nam Phong refugee camp in Thailand. The U.S. provided them political asylum and citizenship.
Many Hmong Americans live in Macomb County and recognize the importance of education for the general public about the historic contributions, traditions, food and faith practices of Hmong veterans.
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 9 of Detroit has a close relationship with the Vietnamese American Association of Michigan. That group marked the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon on April 30, a solemn occasion that represents the loss of freedom, democracy and liberty for the South Vietnamese people. A commemoration ceremony with a performance and story-telling session is 2-5 p.m. May 18 at the Hazel Park Community Center, 620 W. Woodward Heights, Hazel Park. For more information about the VAAM, contact president Hòa Thái Đinh at 248-736-6432 or congdongmichigan@gmail.com or see vaamichigan.org
Send news of service clubs and veterans organizations to Linda May at lindamay@ameritech.net or call landline 586-791-8116.
