How Can Lions Serve Their Communities Today?

Earlier in the week, we provided some examples of how Lions Club are serving their communities even during the coronavirus. Being in a lockdown or having to maintain social distance is not an excuse to stop serving the community. It is an opportunity to think outside the box. It is an opportunity to reevaluate the importance of existing service projects.

Today, let’s examine some other projects Lions can do. Why should Lions do service? First and foremost – Kindness Matters. Having the heart of a Lion means having the heart of a servant.

It’s easy to find new Lions when doing meaningful community service. Partnering with organizations outside of Lions is a great way to find potential Lion members for local clubs. Let’s list a few projects any club can sponsor.

Blood Drive – Lions do not necessarily need to sponsor a blood drive. They do need to be at the front of the donor line. Giving blood is safe, even in the coronavirus lockdown. Seriously consider being part of a local blood drive.

Writing Cards – The Tupelo Leo Club recently undertook an exciting service project. They wrote greeting cards to the patients at St. Jude’s in Memphis. Here is why this is a great project. The Leos (teens not old enough to join Lions) completed a Lions Club International service project – pediatric cancer. Their leaders mailed the cards to St. Jude’s.  Again, any club can do this project safely from the confines of their home.

Volunteer Appreciation – Especially small communities do not have the luxury of having a community partner like United Way or the Salvation Army. They have an advantage however, over clubs in large cities and towns. They can engage in a great project with high visibility in their community. Cook hamburgers and hot dogs for the local volunteer fire department and members of their families.

Lions can find the financial resources to purchase the meat and buns. Individuals can also bring the trimmings needed for a great picnic lunch or supper.

Think for a minute about the community impact of such an event (especially if held quarterly). There will probably be a line of community members willing to donate money to make it happen again? Those donors might be the same people saying, “If that’s what Lions do, I want to be part of Lions!”

Showing appreciation in a highly visible way is one way to serve others during the coronavirus. These are just suggestions. There are many other ways to show why Kindness Matters 

We Serve because Kindness Matters 

Lion Andy Kalinowski (Andy K) 
First Vice District Governor / District Governor Elect 
662.549.3421 

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