Jamestown Lions Club Reviews Programs, Announces Upcoming Meeting Date

The Jamestown Lions Club's Sept. 24 meeting featured a presentation from Shauna Isbell-Kemp, executive director of Safe Shelter in Jamestown, who outlined the organization's services and shared statistics showing the depth of need for domestic violence and sexual assault support across the region.

Kevin Sortland introduced Isbell-Kemp, who came to the executive director role on June 1, 2022, after serving as the University of Jamestown's head women's wrestling coach. Safe Shelter, she explained, is dedicated to supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault while working to prevent future instances of abuse. One of its core services is offering emergency and temporary housing for victims who need a secure place to stay away from their abusers, Isbell-Kemp said. Mary's Place, built in 2018, was constructed specifically to provide that housing.

The 2023-2024 numbers Isbell-Kemp presented illustrated the scale of Safe Shelter's work: 2,028 shelter nights provided, 162 domestic survivors assisted, 65 sexual assault survivors assisted, and 3,425 total services delivered. The organization also helped secure 31 granted protection orders and served 79 group counseling attendees during that period. Anyone in need of immediate help can reach Safe Shelter's 24-hour crisis line at (701) 251-2300.

Sortland also covered upcoming club business during the meeting. Annual fundraiser raffle tickets were available for members to sell. The club's blood drive was set for Nov. 25-26, the Lions state convention for Oct. 24-25, and the Ag Luncheon for Oct. 21. Recent service projects completed by the club included sorting used eyeglasses, participating in Meals on Wheels, and carrying out a Frontier Village cleanup.

The next meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Shady's, with guests welcome to attend. Those interested in membership can contact Glen Nagel at 701-659-8238. The club's website lists its regular dinner meetings as held the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Shawbuck's, with a cost of $22.50 per person or $45 per couple.

A separate community brief published March 18 referenced highlights from a Feb. 25 club meeting, including programs and speakers, but the available text was incomplete. Full details of that meeting, including the identity and presentation of a speaker referenced only as "Erik L" in the brief, were not available at the time of publication.