The Hershey Lions Club recently celebrated its 77th Charter Night and Christmas gathering at the home of the Hershey History Center.

During the event, Hershey Lions Club president Steve Gallerizzo, along with the club's historian, Pete Van Zandt, presented a flag to Laura Passuello, a representative of the Hershey History Center. The flag is one of approximately 40 that was made at the request of Carl Himmelberger, Hershey Lions Club president during the 1974-75 club year, for the township's celebration of the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The flag that was recently presented to the Hershey History Center is believed to have been among those presented by Hershey Lions Club president John Robbins during the bicentennial celebration kickoff program that was held at Hershey Junior High School on Feb. 22, 1976.

Before finding its way to the History Center, the flag was donated to the Hershey Lions Club by the family of the late Carl Himmelberger, a former club member, and his wife, the late Kemmy Himmelberger. Kemmy was a founding member of the Federated Women's Club of Hershey and was chairperson of the bicentennial celebration kickoff program.

Lions Clubs are groups of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. Projects of the Hershey club include eye exams and glasses for residents in need, local student scholarships, sponsorship of youth sports teams, the provision of meals at the Ronald McDonald House, disaster response, Grace United Methodist's Ready for School project and tree planting.

The club also regularly collects nonperishable food items for donation to the Hershey Food Bank. The club has provided hundreds of pounds of food, as well as monetary donations. Club member Cliff Passuello, who spearheads the food collection effort, was recently recognized by Lions Clubs International for his leadership efforts.

The Hershey Lions Club recently resumed in-person meetings. For more information about the club, visit http://www.hersheylions.org.