CLEARFIELD – Members of the Clearfield Shrine Club, in conjunction with the Oriental Band, announced their annual paper drive at Tuesday’s county commissioners’ workshop meeting.
It will take place Friday and Saturday, June 7-8 at the Wal-Mart Supercenter and J.G. Food Warehouse, both of Clearfield, and Goodman’s IGA in Curwensville.
According to the Rev. Dr. Robert S. Ludrowsky, club secretary and treasurer, any donations will benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Shriners will also pass out materials sharing the services available at Shriners Hospitals throughout the United States, including those in Erie and Philadelphia, Pa.
These hospitals provide specialized care to children with orthopedic conditions and burns. Ludrowsky said children come in with deformities that seem insurmountable but with time are restored.
“The Shriners Hospitals … are perhaps the world’s greatest philanthropy,” he said. “It’s not only charitable care, but it’s generally the best care anywhere, any place.
“The best thing is they don’t have a billing department. They will accept insurance coverage … if it’s available, but if it’s not, that’s OK, too.”
He said Shriner “Roadrunners” will also transport children to the hospitals, and in emergency situations, they will even go so far as to volunteer their airplanes.
“It’s an international group and it focuses right here,” Ludrowsky said. “Normally, in the course of a year, over 50 clients are served from Clearfield County.
“The last couple of years, it seems to be the trend that some of the most regular clients are some of the newest residents of Clearfield County – the Amish.”
He continued: “It’s one-to-one, down-to-earth, quality and the best [care] provided out of the concern of folks like you. The paper drive isn’t so much to raise funds as it is to share information.”
Ludrowsky said he’s been part of the Shriner’s Paper Drive for about 15 years, and has never been scorned or read the riot act. Instead, he hears personal stories that end with gratitude.
“We’re proud to be part of the Clearfield community, and we have combined our efforts with the Oriental Band so we can be better together.”