Once again we would like to welcome all the members of the Centre Lion’s Club to the WEIS Radio studios throughout the day for “Lion’s Club Day” – for more than 30 years now WEIS Radio has hosted this special fundraising event.

The Centre Lion’s Club was chartered in 1938 and needless to say, since that time the organization has been making a big difference in our community. 

While sight is of course the main focus of the Lion’s Club, the local chapter has helped  high school students with scholarships and their annual Youth Leadership Forum.

Every year they take a number of children in need Christmas shopping – among their other events there’s the annual Pancake Day fundraiser which has become a favorite those in the community. 

We’re proud to be a part of today’s fundraiser.

The Lions Club name is synonymous with saving sight and serving the 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 – visit the Centre, Alabama Lions Club Facebook page or website:  http://www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/centreal/

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

• Go to the Cherokee County Department of Human Resources in order to fill out paperwork with a DHR staff member.  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 in Centre.  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 then approve or deny that request depending on the circumstances.
• If the 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

The Centre Lions Club / Our 83rd Year of Making a Difference!

The Centre Lions Club was chartered February 25, 1938 by a group of individuals who wanted to help their community

When the club was started, they were following the lead of a young lady named Helen Keller, who challenged the Lions in 1925 to be “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness”.  And since 1938, the Centre Lions have been “Making a Difference” in Centre, in the surrounding communities, in the county and the world for the last 83 years! 

While sight is the passion of the Centre Lions Club, we have the privilege of helping our high school seniors with scholarships.  We provide high school juniors and seniors with opportunities to attend our annual John L. Ellis, Sr. Youth Leadership Forum.  We really have a great time taking ten children, who might otherwise go without, for a Christmas shopping event in conjunction with the Nettie King Brown Christmas Clearinghouse, Inc.  Those are just a few of the good deeds we have the pleasure of doing.     

What really makes us beam with pride is our association with the generous businesses and individuals who help sponsor our Annual Radio Day and Pancake Day fundraisers – you know who you are!  These folks are the real heroes of Cherokee County who partner with us to make a difference! 

So, our question to you is: Why aren’t you a Lion?  We are having a membership drive this fall and it is open to men and women who are interested in helping others and making a difference!  Lion membership is by invitation only!  

Come, join the Centre Alabama Lions Club – “We Serve”.

If you are interested in becoming a Lion, just ask one of our Lion members or call 256/557-1808 and get signed up today!

Our Monthly Meetings

We are a club that averages 40 members.  Due to Covid-19, we are temporarily meeting twice a month, on the second and fourth Wednesday, 12:00 Noon in the Chamber of Commerce meeting room, on the campus of Gadsden State Community College, Centre, Alabama.  We will have bag or box lunches.  Members must respond that they plan to attend and eat.  Lunches will have a fee that will be used for each of the meetings, since lunch is not part of our dues.  This will be sent out in the email to each member before meetings.  We will follow the CDC guidelines of wearing a mask and social distancing.

We invite speakers to speak on various topics or services at our fourth Wednesday meeting and conduct business at the second Wednesday meeting. We include programs that are educational, informational and inspirational.  We also try to have a little fun with service projects, picnics, and parties.

We are now on Facebook – “The Centre Alabama Lions Club”. Please “LIKE” us and “SHARE” our Facebook page.  Thank you. 

Lions meet the needs of local communities and the world every day because they share a core belief – to serve their community.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization. We have 1.4 million members in more than 47,000 clubs in more than 206 countries and geographic areas.

Lions have a dynamic history. Founded in 1917, we are best known for fighting blindness, but we also volunteer for many different kinds of community projects – including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding seniors and the disabled.

Lions give sight. By conducting vision screenings, equipping hospitals and clinics, distributing medicine, and raising awareness of eye disease, Lions work toward their mission of providing vision for all. We have extended our commitment to sight conservation through countless local efforts and through our international SightFirst Program, which works to eradicate blindness.

Lions serve youth. Our community projects often support local children and schools through scholarships, recreation, and mentoring. Internationally, we offer many programs, including the Peace Poster Contest, Youth Camps and Exchange and Lions Quest (and LCIF positive youth development program).

Our Leo Program provides the youth of the world with an opportunity for personal development through volunteering. There are approximately 168,000 Leos and 6700 Leo clubs in more than 140 countries and geographic areas worldwide.

Lions award grants. Since 1968, the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has awarded more than12,600 grants totaling more than US$949 million in grants to support Lions humanitarian projects around the world. LCIF was also ranked the number one nongovernmental organization in a 2007 study by The Financial Times.

Lions help during disasters. Together, our Foundation and Lions are helping communities following natural disasters by providing for immediate needs such as food, water, clothing, and medical supplies – and aiding in long-term reconstruction.

Lions are active. Our motto is “We Serve.” Lions are part of a global service network, doing whatever is necessary to help our local communities.

For more about Lions Clubs, go to www.lionsclubs.org

Lions are an international network of 1.4 million men and women in 206 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.

~ Copy courtesy of Lions Club International