Once again, we would like to welcome the members of the Centre Lion’s Club to the WEIS Radio studios throughout the day for Lion’s Club Day. 

For over 30 years WEIS Radio has hosted this special fundraising event in conjunction with the Centre Lion’s Club.

The Centre Lion’s Club was chartered back in 1938 and since that time the organization has been making a big difference in our community.  While sight is of course the passion of the Lion’s Club – the local chapter has helped high school students with scholarships, and their annual Youth Leadership Forum.  Each year they also take a number of children shopping for Christmas.  Other events include their annual Pancake Day.  We’re proud to be a part of today’s fundraising event.

The Lions Club name is synonymous with saving sight, and for serving their community. 

Lions Club International was founded back in 1917 – eventually growing to be the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members and the Centre Lions Club was chartered in 1938.

Many people probably aren’t aware of the full-range of services offered by the Lions Club. 

In addition to helping those in need with eye care and the purchase of glasses when needed they participate in the Adopt-A-Mile Program; work with the “Nettie King Brown Christmas Clearinghouse” to sponsor shopping trips for ten children each year; they also offer support for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes each holiday season; support Camp Seale Harris by sending a diabetic youth to Diabetic Youth Camp where the child learns about caring for his or her diabetes; and they assist and support other community organizations and relief efforts across the nation and the world.  In addition they collect used eyeglasses which they recycle and distribute to those in need.

The Lions Club also sponsors the John L. Ellis, Sr. Youth Leadership Forum annually for the local high school juniors and seniors; and they fund five scholarships in the amount of $500 each for outstanding high school seniors.

The Centre Lions Club wishes to express their sincere appreciation for all those businesses and individuals who took part in this year’s Radio Day event.

For information on becoming a member of the Lions Club simply visit the Centre Alabama Lions Club Facebook page or their official website at http://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/centreal/

What To Do If You Need Assistance with Eye Exam or Eye Glasses:

• Go to the Cherokee County Department of Human Resources to fill out paperwork with a DHR staff member.  Just tell them that you’re there to complete an application for an eye exam through the Centre Lions Club.
• The DHR office is located at 202 Hospital Avenue, Centre, Alabama. Phone number is (256) 927-1440.
• After you complete the paperwork a DHR staff member will send it to the Sight Chair person.
• The Sight Chair will review the request, and will either approve or deny that request depending on the circumstances.
• If request is approved, it will be passed on to the eye doctor.
• The doctor’s office will then contact the applicant and make an appointment.

“Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided? I appeal to you Lions, you who have your sight, your hearing, you who are strong and brave and kind. Will you not constitute yourselves Knights of the Blind in this crusade against darkness?” ~ Helen Keller