The Buddy Bench
In celebrating the centennial of its founding, Lions Clubs International has urged Lions Clubs around the world to complete at least one lasting community legacy project in honor of the anniversary. Clubs selected and completed projects based on needs in their local communities.
In 2012, the Francis Scott Key Lions Club adopted North Frederick Elementary School. Since that time Lions have provided school supplies, books, puzzles, games, and other items that the school has indicated it needed. It was fitting that one of the club’s two centennial projects benefited NFES. With bullying being a problem in today’s society, Lion Barbara Myers suggested that the club provide a Buddy Bench for NFES, a place where a student who was having a bad day, had problems finding a playmate, or just needed a friend at that particular time, could sit to let other students and staff know that they needed some attention.
NFES Principal DeVeda Coley and FSK Lions Barbara Myers, Lynn Stimmel, and Darlene Aulls.
Working with school staff, a bench was purchased by the Lions and installed by the school just off the primary grades’ playground, that location deemed to be the most appropriate since students of those ages are learning empathy.
The NFES Falcons Buddy Bench was dedicated on April 12, 2018 and was attended by FSK Lions Darlene Aulls, Barbara Myers, and Lynn Stimmel. Students read poems and presented thank you notes and a certificate to the FSK Lions Club in appreciation of the bench’s donation. The certificate, signed by NFES Students and Staff, reads in part, “The Buddy Bench is a special bench that helps students communicate that they want to play with other students at recess, but are having difficulty finding someone who is available. NFES is a school of inclusion. That means that everyone is welcome and everyone is special. We hope the Buddy Bench is used to make and keep friends, and spread kindness for years to come.” The bench bears a plaque indicating its donation by the FSK Lions Club. The Lions also assisted in the Falcon Awards presentation, pinning students who were being honored for Academic Excellence, Improvement in Academics, and Citizenship.
Students were introduced to the rules for using the Buddy Bench through a video, created by NFES fifth-graders, that was shown to them at lunchtime.
The plaque on the Buddy Bench.
Lions Clubs International, celebrating its centennial, is the world’s largest service club organization with almost 1.45 million members in approximately 47,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions Clubs have assisted the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. Lions Clubs are comprised of individuals who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. If you are community-minded, consider joining the FSK Lions Club, which has been serving the Frederick community since 1959 and meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Frederick VFW, 5901 Old National Pike, Frederick, preceded by dinner at Capital Crave at 6 p.m. For reservations, contact President Toni Gray at 240/626-6030.
For additional information on becoming a Lion, visit www.fsklions.org, or on Facebook at facebook.com/FrancisScottKeyLionsClub, at twitter.com/FSKLions or www.flickr.com/photos/fsklions/, or contact Membership Chairman Paul Gray through the club’s website, at membership@fsklions.org, or at 240/626-1511. To support the FSK Lions Club’s various charitable programs, visit www.cedarridgesoaps.com; use coupon code “FSKLions” upon check out, and the club will receive a percentage of your retail total with the funds raised benefitting Leader Dogs for the Blind and the Lions Clubs International Foundation. The link may also be accessed from the club’s website; click on the Projects tab, then on Fundraisers.