Everyday Heroes times two. The Rushford Lions Club had two of their members honored with the Everyday Heroes Award. It’s a prestigious honor usually given to just one member of a local Lions Club. In this case, the Rushford Lions had two members that both deserved the award. They just happen to be brothers.
“Jack and Jim O’Donnell are the Everyday Heroes for the Rushford Lions Club,” said club member Larry Bartleson. “There are more than 50 Lions Clubs in our district and the awards committee typically will only accept one nominee from each club. However, I asked for a received an exemption to nominate both of them. I told the committee I couldn’t nominate one without the other.”
Both the O’Donnells had no idea the award was coming. They both joined the Rushford Lions back in the 1990s and enjoy doing things to serve the community.
“I had totally didn’t expect it,” said Jack O’Donnell. “I had no idea it was coming and was completely surprised. I hadn’t actually planned on going to the meeting, so they had to sort of trick me to get me there.
“I’ve been a Lions member since 1994,” Jack added. “Up to that point, I’d been involved in several organizations while doing volunteer work and helping with projects around town. I was invited by Maury Anderson to join back in 1994. The kids were getting older and leaving the nest, so I had more free time than I had before.
Jim O’Donnell said he was equally surprised by the award. “They had to trick us into going up for the awards presentation. They got Jack and I both up there on the pretext of going out to eat. Instead, we found ourselves at the Lions Convention, where we first found out about it.
“I first got involved in the Lions Club in the late 1990s,” Jim recalled. “I like serving the community. I really enjoy the projects we do, especially when we build something for the community. It’s a tangible thing that will last for a while and that’s really satisfying.”
The list of things the O’Donnell brothers have done, both inside and outside the Lions Club, is quite long.
They’re both members of the Rushford Lions board of directors – Jack is the First Vice President and Jim is a Director.
Culpepper & Merriweather Circus – They help raise funds for the event, a big job all by itself. They also help coordinate the event, along with Jennifer Hengel (also a Lion and Executive Coordinator of the Rushford-Peterson Valley Chamber.)
Hanging Flower Baskets – They help water baskets every week, a big job by itself.
Calendar Sales – They help raise money for local needs.
Rushford Days Pork Chop Dinner – Always a popular event in the community, they helped raise money for local needs.
R-P Crossing Guards – They volunteered as safety patrol at the new school.
Taste of the Trail event – They’ve provided popcorn snacks.
Downtown Music Festival – Another place they brothers have provided popcorn snacks.
KidsSight Eye Screening – They volunteered back in November 2018 at the R-P school with initial eyesight screenings.
Magelssen Bluff Park entrance sign – The O’Donnell’s designed, built and helped to install a new sign.
Crossing Guards – They volunteer for the downtown Halloween trick-or-treating.
Christmas Salvation Army fundraiser – They raise funds at the holiday season for the Salvation Army.
Christmas Parade of Lights – They always help get the float ready.
As if that list isn’t extensive enough, the O’Donnells are planning a project to retrofit picnic tables at Creekside Park to be ADA accessible.
Grace Place Chili & Soup fundraiser – They co-chairs for the project, along with Lion Jim Hoiness to help raise money.
Jack is also a Historical Society member, as well as the Good Shepherd Foundation Chairman.
Jim is also a City of Rushford council member.
“The best part of being in the Lions is the different projects we do,” said Jack. “We don’t just help around town, either. The Lions gives a lot of money to a lot of different causes. We always have something going on.”
When Jack O’Donnell found out that Larry Bartleson nominated both he and Jim, what was his first reaction? “I told him I was going to get even with him,” he said with a laugh.
Jim O’Donnell said he appreciates the honor, but he isn’t involved with the Lions Club for the accolades. “I just like to serve,” he said.