Hills woman is a Lion of aid

In an attempt to keep true to the humanitarian ideals of Lions Clubs International, Debbie Burlingame has organized two events this summer to help those in need.

As event chairwoman, Burlingame has organized the Foothill Blues Festival to help victims of natural disasters through a "Lions to Lions" club donation effort. Next month, she plans to help raise funds for a local girl's leukemia treatments.

"What's really cool is you establish a relationship across the country. We trust Lions and we know the money will go to good use," said Burlingame, who belongs to the Loma Rica Foothill Lions Club.

For the past two years, the blues festival, which was known as Biloxi Blues, was organized to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. This year, though, she and the 40 active members of the club decided to expand and help victims of any disaster.

The members decided to send 100 percent of the proceeds from this year's Foothill Blues Festival to the victims of a tornado that ripped through the tiny Kansas town of Greensburg last year.

"We are proud they chose us and we will put the money to good use," Greensburg Lions Club member Steve Dawson said. "We know the past few years they've donated to Katrina, and so have we. It's nice to get the help."

Dawson said the money and donations from all Lions Clubs are immediately filtered back into the community.

Greensburg was hit by an EF5 tornado on the night of May 4, 2007. The twister destroyed 95 percent of the town.

An EF5 rating indicates the tornado was "enhanced" and had wind speeds in excess of 205 mph.

"I'd never seen anything like it," Dawson said. "I've seen tornados, but nothing like this."

The 1.5-mile-wide twister went right through the center of town, Dawson said. Eleven people were killed and another 60 were injured.

Dawson said it took more than three hours before he knew his family was OK.

Nearly every home was destroyed, according to Dawson.

Three days later, townspeople returned home to put their lives back together.

"It was rough," Dawson said. "But we immediately began picking up the pieces. What else can you do?"

Before the catastrophe, Greensburg had a population of 1,500. Now, Dawson said, the town, which is 110 miles west of Wichita, is at 800 and continues to grow slowly.

From clothing and toys to funding utility bills for volunteers, Dawson said aid money is going back into the community.

"I do know we've paid for a lot of eyeglasses," Dawson said. "Glasses are just as important as anything else. You've got to be able to see what you're doing to be able to do anything."

Although Dawson did not know the dollar amount of donations received, he said Lions Clubs have donated a "substantial" amount to recovery efforts.

Burlingame said Yuba foothills residents want to help in anyway they can.

"We aren't raising enough to rebuild an entire home or purchase a new car. Instead, we are able to say, 'Merry Christmas,' buy your kids a new bicycle,'" she said.

Burlingame said that the Foothills Blues Festival has raised $12,000 the past two years to send to Biloxi, Miss. That is an amount she hopes will grow.

Closer to home, Burlingame has organized a spaghetti feed to help Elizabeth Sutton, a 10-year-old Browns Valley girl diagnosed with leukemia.

The event is a combined effort of the Lions Club and the owners of Browns Valley Bar to help pay for travel expenses.

Burlingame said every little bit helps.

"This money could go toward hotels for her mom while she gets treatments," Burlingame said. "We don't want to limit the use, but this is all toward her treatments."

Contact Appeal reporter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appeal-democrat.com