Matt Miller served as guest speaker for Orrville Lions

  • January 28, 2010
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The Orrville Lions met Jan. 26 in the Community Room of Dunlap Community Hospital. Special guest Matt Miller, business and development administrator at the Kroc Center in Ashland, shared, “Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s restaurant, began his career selling milkshake machines, soon after bought a diner and before long he was selling burgers and fries to the world. Using the money that was generated by his McDonald’s restaurants he and his wife, Joan, will forever have an impact on the Salvation Army and the people we serve at the Salvation Army.” Kroc first got involved with the Salvation Army while ringing the bell for the red kettle collection during the holidays. After he died, his widow Joan wanted to donate a considerable sum of money to the most worthy charity she could find. Joan visited charities and soup kitchens to discern where those with the most need in the community would receive the most help and best treatment. “Joan felt that the Salvation Army treated her with the most dignity and respect,” Miller stated. She awarded the Salvation Army $1.5 billion to build state-of-the-art facilities for the arts, education, and recreation all across the country in communities that could not afford to build one on their own. Miller pointed out, “You never know who’s watching you; you never know what little thing you do today that might make a big difference, just like those Salvation Army volunteers that made a positive impression on Joan.” The 43,000-square-foot facility includes a 220-seat chapel, a wing for social services, an indoor soccer field, a roller rink, computer lab, music room, art studio, 200-seat community room, a track, prayer garden, a kids’ outdoor spray park, and offers many affordable educational and recreational programs. The entire Ashland community came together to work toward the goal of securing the Kroc Center in Ashland. Now, a year and a half after opening, it is a thriving regional destination with a budget of $1 million per year serving a very diverse population. The next morning meeting of the Orrville Lions Club will be at Dunlap Community Hospital in the Community Room on Feb. 9 at 7:45 a.m. and will feature State Representative Ron Amstutz. Everyone in the community is invited to attend any of the Lions Club meetings. For more information, contact Kathi Bond 330-683-1482.


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