At the Wisconsin Lions State Convention, held May 1-3 in LaCrosse, the Fox Valley Lions MJ Tassoul Memorial Medical Equipment Loan Locker was presented the Lions International Kindness Matters Service Award.
This prestigious award is given annually to a handful of Lions and Leo clubs for performing an outstanding service project in any of Lions International global causes. The Kindness Matters Service Award recognizes exceptionally innovative and creative service projects with the aim of leaving a positive impact in their communities.
The Fox Valley Medical Locker was among only 6 projects identified in the United States and 32 world-wide. It is the only Wisconsin Club to receive this honor. Other Lions projects receiving this recognition are in Idaho, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Minnesota; European countries including Austria, Italy, Greece; North and South America including Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, Uraguay, Brazil; African countries of Egypt, Sri Lanka, Nigeria; and the Asian countries of India, Indonesia, Maylasia, Thailand, Republic of Korea, Japan and China.
In 2023, inspired by the work of the Larsen-Winchester Lions, 11 area Lions clubs joined together to open a free medical equipment loan locker in the Fox Valley. The member clubs are Appleton Evening, Appleton Noon, Freedom Greenville Lions, Greenville Lioness Lions, Grand Chute, Heart of the Valley, Kaukauna, Larsen-Winchester, Neenah and Sherwood. These Clubs support the locker both financially and through their volunteer efforts.
The motto “We Serve” guides Lions clubs in their communities. What is unique about the Fox Valley project is that it is a collaboration of area clubs. Proudly displayed at the loan locker are Helen Keller’s 1922 words urging Lions to work together: “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
Opening in August of 2023, the locker served 801 clients in its first 5 months, that number soared to 3,066 in 2024, and continues to grow with the first 3 months of 2025 serving 1,128 clients.
The loan locker is located at 312 W. Northland Avenue in Appleton and is open Wednesdays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00-11:00 a.m.
