Fair Food Funds Philanthropy

DAYTON-We all know fair treats aren't healthy eats. For instance, one funnel cake contains a whopping 760 calories, with 50 gm of fat. Add the strawberry topping and you have a sugar high you may not recover from.

And one 500 calorie corn dog contains half of your daily allotment of sodium and 20 gm of fat.

But doubly-rewarding, guilt-free indulgence can be yours if you purchase your fair treats from local fraternal organizations, such as the Dayton Lions Club, Kiwanis, and 4-H, where nothing on the menu is deep fried, and where proceeds from your purchases go to support the local community.

So go ahead and enjoy that famous taco salad from the Dayton Lions Club, and enjoy the Saturday BBQ, also hosted by the Dayton Lions Club. Enjoy those better-for-you 90%, 1/3 lb. lean hamburgers from the Dayton Kiwanis, and those specialty cheese sandwiches and loaded baked potatoes at the 4-H Club food booth.

"All of the money we raise through the public goes back to the public," said Dayton Lions Club Vice President Glen Mendel.

Earlier this year, the Dayton Lions Club worked with the school nurse to perform vision and hearing screenings, for nearly 250 Dayton elementary students. The club is also on track to provide for people in need with vision exams and glasses. The Lions Club emphasizes vision and hearing, Mendel said.

The Dayton Lions are also instrumental in improving the lives of local youth through funding 4-H events. They provide scholarships to high school graduates, scholarships to send students to Diabetes Camp and other similar camp experiences, Mendel said.

Mendel said the club is always short-handed, so there are opportunities for students to gain valuable work skills and get paid for working in the food booth.

"Dayton Lions try to help wherever and whenever we can, to help our local community, first, but also to provide help at regional, national and international levels to those in need," Mendel said.

Dayton Kiwanis Club Secretary Joe Huether said, "For Kiwanis, the fundraising income we receive from our fair booth operations and other community fundraisers goes to support youth projects in the community, including FBLA, Girl Scouts and scholarships for high school seniors. The list is long."

Young Life, Touchet Valley Little League, 4-H, FFA Livestock, Project Timothy, Knowledge Bowl, Swim Team, Girl Scouts, and Camp Nancy Lee, are just a few organizations that benefit from Dayton Kiwanis efforts.

At the 4-H Club fair booth, located next to the Dayton Lions Club, you can expect to find loaded baked potatoes and sandwiches including variations on grilled cheese, such as ham and cheese, jalapeno cheese, and plain cheese, along with popsicles, Gator Aid, and iced tea, said 4-H Coordinator Donna Hanger.

Hanger said youth who work in the 4-H Club booth also receive an education in customer service.

An adult is always in the booth with the kids, supervising, while the older kids work the grill, and the younger kids handle the drinks and treats, she said.

"It is a good learning experience," said Hanger.

Proceeds go to support club activities through the Leader Council. Some funds are used to supplement camp registration fees and special trips. The Clapp Scholarship, which goes to a graduating senior who has been active in the 4-H program, is supplemented at times. Other funds help with end-of-year awards, which are given out at the Annual Achievement Night Banquet in November, Hanger said.

The county fair only happens once a year. So go ahead and indulge, knowing your purchases may have the added benefit of helping others in the community.

For more information about the Dayton Lions Club contact Vice-President Glen Mendel at gs_mendel@q.com. For more information about Dayton Kiwanis contact Joe Huether at: j.huether@icloud.com. For more information about the Columbia County 4-H Club contact 4-H Coordinator Donna Hanger at: Donna.Hanger@wsu.edu