Just a few weeks before Christmas, a devastating tornado impacted western Kentucky. As the area recovers from the loss of life and catastrophic damage, a local effort is underway to help residents of those communities.

The Christiana Lions Club is currently collecting items to benefit the tornado victims, and the public is encouraged to participate.

Nonperishable food will be collected by Lions Club members on Friday, Jan. 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Jan. 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dutch-Way Farm Market, 365 Route 41, Gap.

Lion Ed Baylor, assistant to Jim Groff, Pennsylvania Lions disaster relief coordinator, explained that shoppers will be offered a list of needed items when they enter the store, and they can then drop off their donations as they exit.

"We will then take all the items from Dutch-Way to the Christiana Lions Club building and start boxing the supplies," he explained.

Additionally, nonperishable food and other needed supplies will be collected at the Lions clubhouse, located at 325 N. Bridge St., Christiana, on Monday, Jan. 17, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Wednesday, Jan. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 3 to 6 p.m.

The club is seeking donations of kerosene heaters; gas cans, either red or yellow; generators and carbon dioxide filters; electrical cords, 50- and 100-foot lengths; shovels; rakes; heavy brooms; large tarps with tie downs; chainsaws; clothing items for children and adults; buckets; heavy-duty trash bags; flashlights; batteries; and work gloves.

The Pennsylvania Lions Disaster Relief Team was provided with the list of needed items from Lion district governor Gary Logan from Hopkinsville, Ky. "As of this time, (these) are items that they are in dire need of and we have put out a plea to all 17 districts for help in getting the items listed to be shipped to Kentucky," said Baylor.

The nonperishable food and the donations collected at the Lions clubhouse will be boxed up and brought over to Lowe's of Morgantown on Friday, Jan. 21, at 9 a.m. With assistance from Lowe's employees, club members will load the boxes onto a tractor-trailer.

"We hope that people and organizations will help," said Baylor. "(In the past) people have been very generous."

Groff and other members of the Christiana Lions Club have a history of helping victims of natural disasters. In 2020, the Lions held a similar collection for hurricane victims in Louisiana, and once again the Pennsylvania Lions Club tractor-trailer made a stop at Lowe's of Morgantown, where the vehicle was loaded with supplies. Approximately 1,000 boxes were loaded onto the tractor-trailer, with an additional 500 picked up at other locations.

In the past, Groff has traveled to help a tornado-devastated Joplin, Mo.; New Jersey towns hit by Hurricane Sandy; and areas affected by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

For more information about the collection drive, visit http://www.facebook.com/ChristianaLionsClub or email christiana.lions@gmail.com.