UNION — Thursday’s meeting of the Union Lions Club included a luau, a guest speaker and a “game plan” for this year’s Candy Days fundraiser.
The September meeting of the local chapter of the Lions Club featured a luau theme. The meeting guest speaker was Chris Beckham, South Carolina Lions Foundation director of development.
Beckham spoke about the importance of the South Carolina Lions Charitable Service (SCLCS) and the work it does providing eye surgeries, glasses, hearing aids and health screening for free to people in South Carolina who cannot afford the services on their own. Beckham oversees fund raising so those vital services may continue in the state.
“He talked about how most people think of candy and brooms when they think of the Lions Club,” said Kelli Johnston, the club’s first vice president, pointing out that many people fail to realize what the club does on a local level.
Johnston provided an example, explaining that the club recently donated money to buy hearing aids for a local woman.
Johnston said those who need these services will fill out an application, which is passed along to the club treasurer and then goes on to the state level. Once the candidate is approved, the local club is notified and able to vote regarding the action to be taken.
Those who would like to apply for these services can contact Lion Johnny Turner at (864) 426-2001.
Candy Days
As part of its annual Candy Days donation drive, the Union Lions Club will give away free candy in exchange for donations at Union County Stadium on Oct. 5 from 5:30 p.m. until game time during the Union County Yellow Jackets game against Broome High School.
The services the Lions Club offers across South Carolina and in Union are funded by the donations received from the general public during Candy Days. The Lions urge everyone to participate in their Candy Days donation drive so that they can continue to help the underprivileged in the community.
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest volunteer service organization. Lions’ volunteers provide humanitarian services such as eye glasses, eye surgeries, and hearing aids for those who cannot afford them. Other local Lions projects include eyeglass recycling, a Mobile Health Screening Unit that travels the entire state of South Carolina, camps for blind youth, sponsorships of local youth groups and educational scholarships.
Sight and hearing conservation have been the major projects for Lions Clubs International since Helen Keller challenged the Lions to be her “knights of the blind.” Together with the S.C. Lions Charitable Services organization, the Lions Clubs of S.C. have developed programs to educate the public about health issues, and to fight sight and hearing impairment.
The next meeting of the Union Lions Club will be held Oct. 11.
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