For some, the holiday season is a time for long lines at the department stores, ever-mounting credit card debt and trying to outdo your neighbor with more lights and tacky displays. For others it is a time to reflect back at the past year, be a little nicer and give a little more.

The Columbus Lodge #2143 OSIA and its ladies auxiliary are a group of men and woman of Italian descent, who continuously give of themselves to the community. An extension of the Lodge are the members of its softball team, the Golden Lions.

Following in the tradition of the Columbus Lodge #2143 OSIA, the Golden Lions are committed to lending a helping hand in their community. In addition to helping local charities raise over $106,000 this past summer by participating in charity softball events, during the holiday season the Lions have been actively helping those who needed their help.

Orchestrated by the St. Rose of Lima RC Church in Massapequa, members of the Columbus Lodge softball team participated in a program to deliver food to needy families. "One man told me he was waiting for his turkey dinner all week," said Lions David Welsh. "It made me feel good (delivering the meals)."

"We wanted to do something 'cool' (during the holidays)," explains Jeff Saviano, 22-year-old outfielder for the Golden Lions. "One elderly couple¬the husband was on a respirator¬invited us in (their apartment). They couldn't have been nicer."

The mission of the Golden Lions can be best summed up by their captain, Ed Bochynski, "Mark Twain once said, 'Always do the right thing. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest'." Reflecting back at the Lions 1998 accomplishments (both on the field and off the field), the team's co-chairman Pete Gisonda, reminds all, "We did a good job, but we can do better."