Reliving Helene relief efforts, awarding Lynch FLC highlights
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FLC officers for 2025-26 around Frank McCall (blue coat), a Lions Club past district governor, are, from left, Sam Green, 1st vice president; Ann Raby, secretary; Dave Crawford, treasurer; Tyler Hunsaker, president; and Jerry Griffin, director. - Photos by Alan Sloan
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Ashley Lynch, Farragut Lions Club membership chair, earned Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from her fellow Lions. - Photos by Alan Sloan
Reliving the relief experience he took part in alongside Farragut Lions Club members last fall after the devastation of Hurricane Helene in Upper East Tennessee, Frank McCall, a Lions Club past district governor, visited FLC last week.
Guest speaker during the regular fourth Tuesday of the month Farragut Lions meeting in Mimi’s Café June 24, McCall also was the official who installed new FLC officers for the 2025-26 year.
The evening also featured FLC membership chair Ashley Lynch receiving the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from her fellow Lions for her selfless volunteer work.
About the Hurricane Helene relief efforts, “I participated with you guys on the truck and had a real blast doing that. … It was very uplifting because just seeing the people donate stuff to us and come back three or four more times, you can’t beat that,” said McCall, who is a member of Loudon Lions Club.
“We filled up, I think, four trucks,” he added. “… I made about six trips up to Mountain City to assist up there.
“They asked for cleaning supplies; we took that and blankets, sleeping bags, whether it be Mountain City or Green County or Erwin. There were a lot of people that were sleeping outside in tents. Tents were a big donation also.”
Of special note, “… The one thing that was very imperative was that we helped get them through the winter season,” McCall said. “And you can imagine yourself sleeping in a tent, especially in the high elevations where it was cold.
“… We took a bunch of space heaters up there, and they said they went quick,” he added.
Installing officers
Though McCall said, “We always encourage new leaders because we have new ideas and new innovations that come in,” he added, “Some people go by the cliché, ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’ So there’s nothing wrong with that.”
