Maine Lions Aim to Raise $50,000 and Spread Awareness for LifeFlight of Maine
This year, members of Maine Lions District 41 are working together to raise funds and awareness for LifeFlight of Maine.
The Maine Lions are part of “Lions Clubs International,” which according to the organization has 1.4 million members across 49,000 clubs. The civic group is dedicated to service in their own communities and around the world. While Maine’s 70 chapters make up only a portion of total members, they are hoping to make a big impact within the state through their fundraising efforts for LifeFlight of Maine.
Charlotte Doyle has been a member of the Lions Club since 1976. This year, she will fulfill a term as District Governor for the clubs in Maine. As District Governor, Charlotte is responsible for selecting an organization for the Lions to support throughout the year. For her project, she chose to raise funds and awareness for LifeFlight of Maine.
“Many, many of our own Lion members have used LifeFlight and it has saved their lives,” said Charlotte. She said members have expressed their gratitude for LifeFlight’s services and are already working toward the group’s goal of raising $50,000.
“It’s really close to my heart,” said Charlotte, who started her career in the healthcare industry as a candy striper. She eventually became a nurse, caring for patients at a former hospital in Bath as well as at MidCoast Hospital for about 20 years.
As a nurse, she saw the work of LifeFlight crews first-hand when they landed at the hospital. “It goes like clockwork. Everybody does their job to make it work,” she said, adding she was amazed by the crews she met, and their ability to work under what can be traumatic circumstances.
To raise funds, Charlotte says each club hosts their own events. For some, it’s setting up booths at local fairs and collecting donations for LifeFlight. “I’ll tell you, the money they raise out of that is unbelievable,” she said.
Other clubs hold raffles or bake sales. In one instance, members simply passed around a water pitcher. “We collected $150 from that. It adds up,” Charlotte shared.
This October, Ashely MacMillan, the director of annual giving for The LifeFlight Foundation, as well as Joe Kellner, CEO of LifeFlight of Maine, met with leaders of the Lions Club in Maine to kick off the club’s fundraising year.
“While our aircraft and medical teams are always ready to respond, we rely on the support and engagement of local communities to ensure we have the resources we need to continue this mission,” said Ashley. “We are grateful for the Lions and their willingness to spread awareness about LifeFlight in their own communities while also working towards their goal of raising $50,000.”
If you are involved with a civic or community organization in Maine and would like to explore having a representative from LifeFlight make a presentation, please contact Ashley MacMillan at amacmillan@lifeflightmaine.org, or at 207-357-5508.
