A local nonprofit organization that performs community service wants to raise funds through beer suds and golf with a pair of upcoming events in Allentown.
Through this year’s Allentown Harvest Festival on Oct. 10-11, as well as during an annual golf outing later in Octotber in Cream Ridge, the members of the Allentown Lions Club hope to raise enough funds to serve the community the group has called home for 76 years.
“We really work hard to try and give back to the community,” club secretary Douglas Both said. “The Lions Club is a community service organization, but we also participate in state and international conservation efforts.”
To help meet those goals, Both said the group is planning to bring back its craft beer garden to the borough’s annual Harvest Festival.
Having deemed last year’s inaugural beer garden a success, Allentown Lions Club President Brian Williams said the decision to bring it back to the community event was an easy one.
“The craft beer event was a great success and drew many more folks to the Harvest Fest who would not have come,” Williams said.
Starting at noon each day of the Harvest Festival, the Lions Club’s craft beer garden will be behind Bruno’s Bicycles on Main Street.
The beer garden will feature 12 brews on tap, with brewery representatives on hand to answer questions and discuss their particular beers.
Throughout the festivities, the beer garden will feature live music and food.
Both said the beer garden will take place whether the weather cooperates or not, with seating available under tents. Entry to the beer garden requires a valid identification card to obtain a wristband. Beer tickets will be $5 each and will be good for one serving of either 16 ounce pours or 12 ounce pours of the beers with higher alcohol contents.
While the beer garden is a newer addition to its repertoire, Both said a Lions Club staple will return to the links with this year’s annual golf outing.
On Oct. 23, the group will be the host to the 2015 golf outing at the Gambler Ridge Golf Course, Cream Ridge.
According to Both, the golf outing has become a tradition for the club.
“The feedback has always been fantastic about the golf outing … so it is a great time to get out,” he said. “We have always been lucky to have great weather for our golf outings in October.”
According to Both, registration and a continental breakfast will take place at 10 a.m., with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Beverages will be provided to participants all day, with an outdoor pig roast dinner immediately following the golf. Prizes for participants will be presented at the end of the day.
Registration is $120 per player, for the first 100 players, with options to register as a single player or a foursome.
Both said funds raised in all of the Lions’ public events are used to support community efforts, including the Memorial Day parade, sponsorships for the annual Boys State and Girls State programs and Boy Scout projects.
According to the club, the group’s primary goal is to “empower volunteers to serve [the community] by providing humanitarian support and performing service projects.”
“We are hoping people can come out and support the club,” Both said. “It is a win for the community, as well as win for the fundraising efforts of the club.”