Lions Club members from District 26-E completing a deck for Shanda York. The Lions are from the Carthage, Joplin Host and Lamar Lions Clubs. Lion Mary Catherine Krause holds three year old Shanda York in the inset above.

A three year old Carl Junction girl with Spina Bifida has a safer place to play, thanks to the Lions of District 26-E. Mary Catherine Krause, Region 2 Zone 1 Chairman, a Spina Bifida person herself, became aware of the plight of Shanda York. She, being unable to walk, was constantly picking up infection from playing and crawling on the lawn. A deck was needed, but Shanda's mother, a single parent of three, was unable to work since she is unable to get help to care for Shanda.

Krause, a member of the Joplin Range Lions Club, set out on her own to raise money for a 10' X 16' deck. Donations from six businesses and five Lions Clubs netted $1,500. This was only enough to buy the lumber and materials after Tapjac Lumber discounted the bill. In reply to Krause's bid for help, the Lamar, Joplin, and Carthage Lions Clubs came to her assistance. The Lions Club Members, under the direction of Past District Governor Conrad Harper completed the deck in two weekends of work.

For her efforts to provide assistance to a person in difficulty, Mary Catherine Krause received the Governors Self-Advocate of the Year Award in a cermony at the St. Louis Airport Hilton, October 26. This was one of the Nine Category Areas for which awards were given by the Governors Council on Disability Inclusion Awards.