Cross Plains Lions Club

07/23/2026

It’s time to Stuff the Bus!

From now through August 15 the Lions are collecting school supplies for our local students. Drop off backpacks, binders, markers, pens, pencils, notebooks and more at Walgreens, Crossroads, Vessel, St. Francis Xavier, Plastic Ingenuity, Ace Hardware, Piggly Wiggly and the Library.

Then come out for lunch August 15 to our Brat Stand at the Pig. All proceeds will be donated to our schools in Cross Plains!

07/16/2026

Our 2026 Stuff the Bus School Supplies drive is on! Our club organizes and gathers school supplies for the Cross Plains area schools. We added a new collection bin at the US Post Office on Park St!

Check out the Recommended Supplies and grab a few extras to help us fill out bins! Our team has set out the bins in the locations listed.

We are holding a Brat Stand on Sat Aug 15th with proceeds going to directly benefit Stuff the Bus and the area schools! We will also have a bin ready to drop off supplies you have for the schools!

Thank you from Cross Plains Lions Club!!

06/23/2026

Check out this workshop focusing on creating positive frameworks and habits around aging. This will be held at the Northwest Dane Senior Services on Bourbon Road on July 14!

06/20/2026

Our fellow Lion, Rodney Esser, has been a treasured part of the Park Elementary family for generations. Known affectionately as Mr. Peanuts, Rodney has brightened the days of countless students, supported teachers and staff, and become a beloved figure throughout the community.

Today, we celebrate not only his years of dedicated service, but also the kindness, compassion, and commitment he has shared with everyone he has met along the way. Congratulations, Mr. Peanuts, and thank you for the extraordinary difference you’ve made in so many lives. Your legacy is one of service, friendship, and community. 🦁❤️

The custodian for more than 60 years is known for the care and love he gave to generations of students. ⤵️ Find a link to the story in the comments.

06/06/2026

At our Lions Club meeting on Thursday, Doc Esser was awarded the Bernie and Collen Stuttgen volunteer service award presented by Jim Fletcher. Doc was recognized with this award for his dedication and service to collect hides.

The Wisconsin Lions Foundation has been collecting deer hides since the late 1980s. Doc has been leading the effort in Cross Plains each year. He has been collecting, sort and delivering hides that are used to produce leather and gloves. Each hides make 4-6 gloves that are supplied to store like Menards, Fleet Farm and Cabela’s.

The hides are used to create gloves that are sold and the money is used to support the Wisconsin Lions Camp. Last year, the deer hide program generated $123,000 for the camp, which provides free summer programs for people with disabilities.

Congratulations to Doc for recognition of his efforts to collect the deer hides to raise money for campers at the Wisconsin Lions Camp!

06/06/2026

At our Lions Club meeting on Thursday, six members of our club were presented the Knight of Sight award. A Knight of Sight is the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin’s highest form of recognition that can be presented to an individual in a Lions Club. These members volunteer their time and dedication serving to transport cornea tissue so that ‘we deliver today so that someone can see tomorrow’

Special thanks to this group for their on going commitment: Tom Hart, Mike Schutz, Dan Cady and Charlie Saeman. Paul Yochum and Bill Saeman were also awarded but not present.

The Knight of Sight recipient’s name is prominently and permanently displayed on the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin’s Knight of Sight Wall of Honor in Madison.

06/06/2026

At our Lions Club meeting on Thursday night, we installed five new members! We formally welcomed Megan Crowson, Jeff and Lisa Zander and Paul and Carol Barth. Not present was Jeff Mahoney. This group joins our local club of over 100 members in serving the community and area.

We also inducted officers of the our club for the 2026-2027 club year. This group will lead the club in organizing many service and fundraising activities.

Are you interested in learning more or joining Cross Plains Lions Club? Send us a message!

05/01/2026

Great success at the Brat Sale at Glaciers Edge/Piggly Wiggly lot today! We have persevered the weather and had en enjoyable time!

Look for us on Saturday, May 1 at both Esser’s Square near Creekside Scoop AND beer and food sales near the new Lions Legacy Pavilion!

Check out all the details at Trout Days - Cross Plains Lions

05/01/2026

We want as many people as possible to enjoy public events for as long as they would like to. With this in mind, Cross Plains Rec and the Lions Club are co-hosting a sensory tent during Trout Days. It will be located along the Mill Creek Parkway near the craft and civic organization fair.

What is a sensory tent? Some people feel overwhelmed by crowds, noises, scents, and other sensory input. This overwhelming feeling may cause someone to feel:
- incredibly anxious
- physically ill
- like crying or screaming
- shut down and unable to easily interact with the environment

The sensory tent is a quieter, dimmer space for someone to get away from the crowd. Toys, pillows, or blankets can help people regulate their system so they feel better able to rejoin the event or get through the crowd to go home.

Who can use the space? Anyone. You do NOT need a diagnosis, disability, or condition to use the space. If you would feel better after some time away from all of the activity, you are welcome to use the space.

If you are interested in volunteering for an hour or so to answer questions and help keep the space ready for anyone who needs it, contact Jill, the Rec Coordinator at [email protected]

[Alt Text for Screen Readers: A flyer with the Cross Plains Parks and Rec and the Lions Club logos at the top reads -

A sensory tent is a public space designed to give people who need a quieter, less stimulating space away from crowds and noise to go to help them decompress and get more regulated. We hope this space allows families and individuals to stay longer at this event.

This is shared space, so we ask:
Anyone ill or injured should go to the EMS tent.

Use the ADA accessible porta potties to change diapers or clothing. There are also public bathrooms located in some of the businesses along Mill Creek Parkway.

We have sensory toys here as tool to help people regulate. It is not intended as a play space.

Anyone requiring a caregiver to safely participate in today’s event also needs a caregiver present with them in this space.

Children under the age of 10 must have a responsible caregiver with them while in this space.

Leave this area the same or better than you found it.

Everyone has different ways to regulate their system - your way may look different from someone else’s. This is a safe space for all and we expect people here to be respected and respectful.

End description.]

04/27/2026

Your help is very important to collect the label free plastics! Thanks to Northwest Dane Senior Services!!

We love to lend a helping hand ✋
Northwest Dane Senior Service's clients recently spent some time helping the Cross Plains Lions Club with plastic recycling! Recycled Plastic ➡ Benches

What a great way to give back during NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK!