July 20, 2026
By Steve Hill
Five Lions Clubs in our local Region 4 – Zone 1 area; Coon Valley, Viroqua, St. Joseph Ridge, Cashton, and Westby; sponsored their 19th annual Lions Golf Tournament recently at the Viroqua Hills Golf Course. They raised money to donate to the Wisconsin Lions Camp in Rosholt, Wis. and three local food pantries. The five clubs donated a record amount of $12,500 to important community needs. Over 75 area businesses joined as hole sponsors and door prize donators, and 76 area golfers enjoyed a fundraising day on the course, together raising a record amount at the golf tournament for the one-day event. $7,850 was donated to the Wisconsin Lions Camp with the remaining funds of $4,650 split between the Living Faith Food Pantry in Viroqua, Bethel Butikk in Westby, and the Cashton Cupboard and Closet.
Making a $700 donation to the Cashton Cupboard and Closet from left to right are; pantry worker Jackie Von Ruden, Cashton Lion Mike Healy, pantry worker Dorthy Peterson, Cashton Lion Kenny Mullenberg, pantry worker Susan Hanson, Cashton Lion Mike Hanson, and Viroqua Lions Marilyn Kile, Al Petersen, Michael Stephen, and Steve Hill – contributed photo 
St. Joseph Lion members; Jeff Servais and Don Breidel, Viroqua Lion member Al Petersen (golf committee), St. Joseph Lions Darrel Dwyer (past Wisconsin Lion Foundation President) and Stan Dwyer (golf committee), and Viroqua Lion Steve Hill (Golf Tournament Chair) contributed photo 
Making a $1,975 donation to the Living Faith Food Pantry are several Viroqua Lion members, Front left to right are the Living Faith Food Pantry Manager Becki Rider; and Viroqua Lion members Steve Hill, James Fuller, Dan Crowley, Al Petersen, and Roger Call – contributed photo 
Making a donation to Bethel Butikk for $1,975. Pictured from left to right are Viroqua Lions Steve Hill and Al Petersen; Bethel Butikk Manager Joy Moser, and Bethel Buttik volunteers Kathy Peterson and Karla Yanske – contributed photo
The Wisconsin Lions Camp is located in Rosholt. It was started in 1956 and is administered by the Wisconsin Lions Foundation. The Camp is situated on 440 acres in Central Wisconsin, including miles of trails and a 45-acre lake. The Wisconsin Lions Camp provides a week of camp at no cost for youth (7 weeks) and adults (3 weeks) with disabilities to enjoy. The Camp’s operating budget is approximately $1.5 million and is funded, in part, by generous donations. Up to 150 campers are attending camp each week, with this summer featuring the following weeks:
June 7 – 11th: Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired
June 14 – 18th & June 21 – 25th: Youth with Diabetes
June 28 – July 2nd: Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism
July 5 – 9th & July 12 – 16th: Youth with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism
July 19 – 23rd: Youth with Epilepsy & Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired July 26 – 30th & August 2 – 6th: Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
August 10 – 14th: Adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
The Camp has a number of activities for campers, including an adventure course, archery, arts & crafts, boating, campouts, a climbing tower & bouldering wall, field sports, a mud pit, environmental education, a rope swing, swimming, low ropes, high ropes, and more!
The three local food pantries, along with several other area programs, provide assistance for people with food insecurities. Given the high degree of need in our area, these pantries are providing an invaluable service to families in our local communities.
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