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The LIONS (Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety) was founded in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois. It began with business men wanting to give back to their community. The motto of the Lions became, and still is, “We Serve.”
In 1925, Helen Keller asked the Lions to become “knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.” Her request inspired the Lions to focus on helping people with sight and sound needs.
The Lions is currently the largest service organization in the world, with 1.35 million members in 45,000 clubs, in 206 countries. Lions help people receive glasses and hearing aids, support victims of natural disasters, recycle glasses, build parks for children, and provide many other needed services.
The Galena Lions Club was chartered on September 14, 1936. This chapter has provided support and service throughout the years to the Galena community, with sight and sound needs and many community projects.
Here are some of the ways the Galena Lions Club has served in the last six years:
- Eye surgery for a local man
- Three defibrillator brackets for the Galena-Stauss Senior Care Community
- Computer monitor for the Galena Public Library
- T-connection for the Galena Primary School
- Large donations to the United Churches of Galena Food Pantry
- Three $500 scholarships to students studying sight or sound occupations
- Eyeglasses and exams for ten Galena residents
- Disaster relief money for Haiti, New Zealand and Japan
- Made improvements to Lions pavilion for use by other groups
- Donation to Jo Daviess County Health Department’s Pharmaceutical Disposal Program
- Gave money to Toys for Tots program in Jo Daviess County at Christmas time
- Donated to the Illinois Leader Dog (dogs trained for hearing/sight disabled) program
- Reading glasses bought at cost from Max Mitchell and provided to food pantry patrons
To serve our community by providing voluntary services and financial assistance, especially in the areas of sight and hearing, within an atmosphere of fellowship and fun, and in keeping with the Lions’ traditions of community involvement, international cooperation, and environmental protection.
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