By Carol Mowdy Bond
Contributing Writer
The Surrey Hills Lions Club hosted a free concert in the park on Sunday evening, October 4.
The concert was at the Surrey Hills Lions Club Park, located on W. Hefner Road next to Surrey Hills Elementary School at the corner of Hefner and Hastings, the event gave the community a chance to enjoy themselves, as well as a reminder of Lions Club and the club’s need for funding. The club lost all funding this year due to COVID-19. Area residents gathered in their golf carts, lawn chairs, and on blankets to enjoy the good weather and music. Food trucks were on hand.
Lynn Wilson, manager of the park, said of the club’s vice president, Dale Rinehard, “It was his idea and his energy that made this happen.”
Of his idea for the event Rinehard said, “It’s really pretty simple. Our club has not done anything this year due to COVID. And several people in the band said they’d be willing to play if we have an event. Our hope was to get as many of the community there as possible. And to give people a chance to donate to the club.”
The Highway 4 Band performed, with lead singers Bob Kaiser and Rex Cravens at the helm. Rinehard said, “The band plays oldies rock from the 60s and 70s, and some country. Most of the band members are ages 67 to 72, and some in their mid to late 50s. My wife, Linda, plays keyboard.”
The Surrey Hills Home and Garden Club was the secondary sponsor for the free concert. Members sold baked goods at the concert to raise funds. The garden club also lost all its funding this year due to COVID-19.
The club members maintain the boulevard entrance to Surrey Hills where the large metal surrey stands, and they pay for all mowing, edging, and watering the boulevard. They also maintain the addition’s entrance flower beds, and decorate the metal surrey for holidays.
The University of Central Oklahoma has student volunteers. And those volunteers go door to door in Surrey Hills, leaving flyers on doors. The fliers ask residents for donations. UCO canceled all student volunteer activities due to COVID-19.
Rinehard said, “We just want to keep the Lions in front of the community and thought this would be a nice opportunity. And this event lets people get out in the outdoors. The band played in our pavilion, and we have a 3 1/2 acre park so there’s plenty of room for social distancing. This year we’ve not had any of our annual events due to COVID, so we’ve had no funds come in this year at all. We haven’t had our two annual pancake breakfasts, our annual Easter Egg Hunt, or our annual September Community Picnic.”
“We use our funding primarily for our Surrey Hills Lions Club Park,” Rinehard said. “We have a small, full-size basketball court, a pavilion, an area for volleyball, and picnic tables. I see soccer teams practice there all the time, and I see other groups having other events there as well. A lot of people use our park all the time.”
“As well, we use our funding to provide eye glasses for people who need them but can’t afford them,” Rinehard said. “We also help Surrey Hills Elementary School when they have a need.”
The club also financially helps support the Lions Meadows of Hope in Perkins. Formally the Boys Ranch, it is now a venue to help those in foster care.
To connect with the Surrey Hills Lions Club, or to donate to their causes, email Drinehard1@cox.net.
