Rose Day 2012

October 27, 2012 - Fifteen Freeport Lions Club volunteers delivered over 550 dozen roses to residents in Freeport and surrounding communities in Stephenson, JoDaviess and Winnebago counties. The Lions met early Saturday morning at Paul Tormohlen’s Good People Automotive to pick up boxes for their routes that had been sorted and filled by Lions Rose Day chairman, Joe Serafini.

Although some people thought only residents of Freeport are recipients of roses, people may be surprised to learn of the many communities in which recipients live. Rose delivery routes took Freeport Lions to Baileyville, Forreston, Shannon, Lanark, Lake Carroll, Ridott, German Valley, Pecatonica, Winnebago, Davis, Rock City, Lake Summerset, Willow Lake, Sunset Hills, Cedarville, Orangeville, Pearl City, Lena, Winslow, Warren and Stockton.

Freeport Lions Club Rose Day first delivery route drivers arriving for early morning route pickup were (top row) Lions Club President, Terry Anderson, Dennis Zimmerman, Troy Pettis, and Roland Caruso; (bottom row) Rich Montgomery, Joe Serafini and Steve Kryder.

Thanks to all of this year’s delivery route drivers who volunteered: Brian Burke, Roland Caruso, Duane Smith, Richard Montgomery, Bert Kersten, Jack Grigsby, Pat Davis, Steve Kryder, Joe Serafini, Terry Anderson, Dennis Zimmerman, Leo Bonin, Paul Rampanthal, and Troy Pettis. Lions made efforts to deliver in person when possible, or called the recipient and left a message if no one was home. Several dozen roses were donated to the Stephenson County Nursing Center, as well as to Provena St. Joseph Center, Liberty Village, and Parkview Home, all in Freeport.