AGAWAM – Agawam Lions Club’s new branch Pioneer Valley Virtual Lions (PVVL) is hosting their first regional project called “Recycle the Nip”

The project is a contest that started April 19 and runs through April 30. The purpose is to highlight the issues with nip bottle littering and impaired driving.

Participants are being asked to share an original photo or dance video supporting the cause on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok using the hashtag #RecycleTheNip and tagging Pioneer Valley Virtual Lions to be entered in the contest to receive a $300 visa gift card. Participants can also post a photo or video picking up trash in their area. The president of the Virtual Lions wanted the dance video to be an option for safety reasons about where people were able to pick up trash.

A part of the project will be selling $20 “Don’t Litter” law signs starting April 24. The sign artwork was done by nine-year-old Agawam resident, Luciana DiMauro, after her neighborhood was repeatedly littered with nip bottles.

“My daughter plays every day in our neighborhood and we pick up nip bottle litter every day, so we know every day someone is driving impaired and that’s what the concern is,” president of PVVL and father to Luciana, Christopher DiMauro, said.

Approximately $5 from the sale of every sign is being donated to the GoFundMe campaign for Jack Coughlin, an Agawam resident and environmental advocate that passed away April 18 following injuries from being hit by a car in January. He had been trying to get a bill passed to help clear the streets of nip bottles. The rest of the funding will go toward the PVVL fund. Signs are also available for purchase at www.agawamlions.org and will be delivered free of charge to homes and businesses.

Each sign purchase will enter the supporter into a raffle for a $300 Visa Gift Card, which will be chosen at random May 1 and announced on the Pioneer Valley Virtual Lions Facebook page.

The contest is sponsored by Massachusetts Package Store Association (MPSA) along with other local liquor stores. They agreed the nip littering has become a huge issue.

The idea to start a new branch came from the parent club, Agawam Lions Club, that built 231 school desks and gave them out to different schools earlier this year. It was their first virtual project that turned out to be a success. It is the first club of its kind in the Northeast.

"The reason we created the Pioneer Valley Virtual Lions is to make service more accessible for today’s busy professionals and parents. It’s not that people don’t want to serve their community; they feel that they don’t have the time to make a substantial impact. With today’s technology and internet connection there are things that anybody can do. We all can make a positive impact. The PVVL proudly embodies the core human values of respect, acceptance, and empathy for all people and values the unique contributions and talents of our individual members,” DiMauro said.

Lions Club International encouraged formation of virtual clubs where you can attract younger professionals. The PVVL proudly embodies the core human values of respect, acceptance, and empathy for all people and values the unique contributions and talents of our individual members.

“We are picking up new members from surrounding towns in Western Mass who want to serve their communities and regional issues. We are trying to accommodate busy people and understand not everyone has time for the typical in person weekly meetings. We are focusing on young families, children, and people with disabilities,” Dick Lanier, liaison officer and secretary of the Lions Club said.

The Pioneer Valley Virtual Lions meet once a week. If you are interested in joining you can reach out to the Secretary Cheryl Terramagra at cterra@rocketmail.com or President Christopher DiMauro at skidimauro@comcast.net.

You can learn more by visiting the Pioneer Valley Virtual Lions on Facebook and Instagram, @PioneerValleyLions