How Are Lions Serving Their Communities Today?

For more than 100 years, local Lions Clubs have served their communities. Many clubs relied on sight screenings to provide community service. The coronavirus has changed our lifestyles. Sight screenings requires close personal contact. How can Lions serve with today’s limitations?

Lions adopted the vision service project in 1925. They heard a speech by Helen Keller. She challenged Lions to be her “Knights for the Blind in a crusade against darkness.” That’s why the public associates Lions with vision issues.

Some Lions Clubs mistakenly provide vision services at the expense of other service projects. Lions Club International adopted other international service projects. These include diabetes, hunger, the environment, pediatric cancer and youth.

Within the northern part of Mississippi, many Lions Clubs have found a way to serve their community, while maintaining social distancing. Here are some examples.

  • Batesville Lions held a benefit for their police department.

  • Byhalia Lions paid a local restaurant to supply lunches for students who could not attend school.

  • East Columbus and Greater Columbus Lions partnered with United Way for a drive-thru food bank. These clubs got help from Macon, Louisville, Horn Lake and South Branch Lions. They have another drive-thru event planned for early July.

  • Horn Lake Lions donated to both of their food banks and bought fast food gift cards for truck drivers
    .
  • Kosciusko Lions gave fast food gift cards for nurses serving at the hospital and assisted living homes.

  • Maben Lions assisted with the Webster County food drive.

  • South Branch Lions donated food and helped hand it out at their food bank.

  • Tupelo Lions held a “Stuff the Truck” event in front of a grocery store to gather food for the local food bank.

Lions are serving today. These are only some examples of how Lions serve in their community. People want to be part of a club or organization that does more than just meet. People want to be part of meaningful things in their community. That’s exactly what a Lions Club is.

We Serve because Kindness Matters 

Lion Andy Kalinowski (Andy K)
First Vice District Governor / District Governor Elect
662.549.3421
http://www.mississippilions.org/ 

https://www.facebook.com/Lions30M

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