Lions Club of Kemptville focuses on eyecare for the community
EMC News – The Lions Club of Kemptville have been a fixture in the community since 1958 and they show no signs of slowing down.
Whether its donating to minor hockey, fundraising for local families stricken by fire, or supporting their renowned eye-care program, they are a service club that continues to have a strong presence in North Grenville since they were chartered March 25,1958.
A few of their most recent endeavours include their annual 50/50 fundraising draw held July 1, as well as sponsoring and lending a hand at the third annual Jazz in the Garden event last Saturday (July 24) to benefit the North Grenville Public Library’s ‘Room to Read’ fundraising campaign.
According to Lions Club member John Carkner, continuing to support the community has been a challenge for not just the Lions, but many service clubs in the area, since the closure of the South Gower Bingo Hall a few years ago. He said service clubs remain a big source of funding for organizations.
“With government funding not as free-flowing as it was in the days of yore, service clubs are pretty important as far as trying to provide some of what’s needed in the community,” he said.
To that end, the Lions have rolled up their sleeves to help out the North Grenville Municipal Centre, Camp Quality, Kemptville Youth Centre, they have an ongoing commitment to the Kemptville District Hospital and also support the Cheryl J. Brown Centre (Kemptville and District Home Support Inc.) Because of all they do, the Lions receive many requests for funding, which they deal with at their regular meetings.
“They (requests) come in from many different sources and we sit down as a group and consider if they’re possible and if it makes sense to do it, we’ll do it,” Carkner explained.
However one of their main focuses remains their international outreach work and eye care program.
“Vision care is important to our club,” Carkner commented, adding that Lions Club members regularly collect eyeglasses to take overseas to countries such as Guyana, and members have eye washing sessions to prepare the glasses for international travel.
“We recently washed 3,000 to 4,000 glasses that are going overseas,” he added.
“Our primary focus is probably the local area with international outreach being part of what we do as well.”
With North Grenville’s aging population, many service clubs, including the Lions are struggling to increase membership and infuse younger blood into their groups. Carkner said the club welcomes those with new visions for where the organization can move into the future.
“If people are interested in joining, their energy, inspiration, dedication and ideas would certainly be appreciated,” he remarked.
