STAFF REPORTS
BARKER, N.Y. — Barker Lions sponsored Lions Night at the Ransomville Races. Lions members from Lockport, Newfane, Wilson, Town of Niagara, and Lewiston joined the Barker club. Past District Governors Sharon Battaglia, John Hake and Jim Muscoriel joined current District Governor Jeff Jarvis at the event. To celebrate, trophies were given by the Lions to the winning racers. Each club has its own service activities.
The Night at the Races gives the members a chance to gather socially. Founded in 1917, Lions Club was designed by Melvin Jones to be a service club.
In 1925, Helen Keller asked the group to be her “Knights of the Blind.” Aiding those with sight and hearing challenges became the mission. As their brochure states: “Whenever a Lions club gets together, problems get smaller. And communities get better. That’s because we help where help is needed – in our own communities and around the world – with unmatched integrity and energy. Our 46,000 clubs and 1.35 million members make us the world’s largest service club organization.
When it comes to meeting challenges, our response is simple: We serve. In 205 countries, in hospitals and senior centers, in regions battered by natural disaster, in schools and in eyeglass recycling centers, Lions are at work, helping, leading, planning and supporting. Because we’re local, we can serve the unique needs of the communities where we live. And because we’re global, we can address challenges that go beyond borders.
We want everyone to see a better tomorrow. That’s why we support sight programs and services including vision screenings, eye banks and eyeglass recycling, provide eye care services to those at risk of losing their sight, and raise donations through fundraising campaigns like Campaign SightFirst and Campaign SightFirst II.
We believe everyone deserves a healthy life. From providing health programs that focus on hearing loss to supporting efforts to control and prevent diabetes, we’re working to improve the health of children and adults around the world.
We empower the next generation. Whether it’s providing volunteer and leadership experiences in a Leo club or sharing a message of peace through our Peace Poster contest, our youth programs invest in the future by reaching out to young people.
We serve local communities – and protect the planet. From performing hands-on service projects to providing emergency assistance, our community and environmental programs improve our communities – and protect the environment.
To find a club near you, go to www.md20lions.com. That is for Multiple District 20, which includes Western New York. Whether you want to join a club, make a donation, or seek help, the club nearest you is ready.
All WNY is made possible thanks to coffee and sleep deprivation.
We appreciate your readership. We like money, too.
