International Association Of Lions Clubs

TO EMPOWER VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES, MEET HUMANITARIAN NEEDS, ENCOURAGE PEACE AND PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH LIONS CLUBS.

SIGHT CONSERVATION - WE ASSIST THE BLIND AND SIGHT IMPAIRED POPULATION BY PURCHASING EYE EXAMINATIONS AND EYEGLASSES. WE ALSO SUPPORT EYE RESEARCH AND EYE TESTING FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. WE SUPPORT THE LIONS LEADER DOG PROGRAM AND ASSIST LOCAL BLIND INDIVIDUALS NEEDING A LEADER DOG. WE SUPPORT STATEWIDE LIONS PROJECTS SUCH AS THE VIRGINIA LIONS SIGHT FOUNDATION, THE VIRGINIA LIONS EYEGLASS RECYCLING CENTER, AND THE SIGHT & HEARING MOBILE SCREENING UNIT-SAHMSU.

HEARING CONSERVATION - WE ASSIST DEAF AND HEARING-IMPAIRED POPULATION BY PURCHASING HEARING EXAMINATIONS AND HEARING AIDS. WE ALSO SUPPORT HEARING RESEARCH AT THE STATE LEVEL THROUGH THE VIRGINIA LIONS HEARING FOUNDATION.

YOUTH EDUCATION AND DRUG AWARENESS - WE ESTABLISHED AND SUPPORT A LEO CLUB AT THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND-VSDB. WE ALSO SPONSOR EDUCATION, SAFETY AND DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAMS AT CITY SCHOOLS THROUGH THE STAUNTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. FINALLY, WE PROVIDE TWO SCHOLARSHIPS (500 AND 750) TO GRADUATING SENIORS AT STAUNTON HIGH SCHOOL FOR POST GRADUATE EDUCATION EXPENSES.

FOOD, SHELTER & HUNGER ASSISTANCE- WE SUPPORT THE VALLEY MISSION FINANCIALLY AS WELL AS PROVIDE AN EVENING MEAL EVERY OTHER MONTH TO THOSE STAYING AT THE MISSION. WE SUPPORT THE LOCAL SALVATION ARMY UNIT FINANCIALLY AND PROVIDE VOLUNTEER HELP WITH BELL RINGING DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. WE ALSO ASSIST 20 NEEDY FAMILIES WITH FOOD FOR A THANKSGIVING DINNER. THE FAMILIES NEEDING ASSISTANCE APPLY THROUGH THE SALVATION ARMY. LASTLY, WE FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE BLUE RIDGE AREA FOOD BANK WITH AN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION. DISASTER RELIEF- WE SUPPORT THE LIONS OF VIRGINIA FOUNDATION- LOVF WHICH OFFERS DISASTER RELIEF THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. COMMUNITY SERVICE- WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO LOCAL RESIDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE 'CELEBRATION OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS' AT GYPSY HILL PARK; PARTICIPATION IN THE STAUNTON CHRISTMAS PARADE, AND BY SELLING FOOD CONCESSIONS AT THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT BLUEGRASS IN THE PARK SERIES IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. WE HAVE PROVIDED SEVERAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS THE RAY HOUSER MEMORIAL PARK BENCH, DUCK POND ENHANCEMENTS, AND A CENTENNIAL PAVILLION ON THE WILSON WORKFORCE AND REHABILITATION CENTER GROUNDS AND WALKWAY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HWY 250 AND MYERS CORNER.