Winter 2024Past Issues Rising to the ChallengeAs we prepare for a great 2024, Lions remain committed to MISSION 1.5 — our drive to reach 1.5 million members and increase our capacity to serve those who need us. The need to grow is urgent, and I'm genuinely inspired by the way you are rising to meet this challenge. More members will allow us to do more service over the coming years, and the momentum we create will have a powerful ripple effect…more...Lions Are on a Mission to Grow.The world needs Lions like never before. For more than a century, Lions have stepped up in their communities — giving, supporting and serving. Each Lion matters to the people who depend on us. And every club is doing their part to make their communities stronger, healthier and kinder places for all. But as we strive to increase our service and extend our helping hands far and wide, the needs of our communities — and…more...Golden PlaydatesA friendly visitor is always a welcome sight for those living in retirement homes. But when tiny visitors are strolled in with their rosy cheeks, infectious smiles and bubbly personalities, the residents know they’re in for a special treat. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, the Circle of Life program is bringing seniors and babies together for stories, songs and socialization. Once a month, volunteer moms, caregivers and their little ones are greeted by a room…more...Breaking BarriersIn the early 1960s, C.W. McClure, the principal of a school for Black children in Eagle Lake, Texas, was in the five-and-dime buying school supplies for his students when the white store owner approached him. “Do any of your students need glasses?” he asked McClure. “I’m an officer in the local Lions club and if they need glasses, you get me their names, their parents’ names, and we’ll get glasses for them.” McClure, who passed…more...Princess PowerThe Edgemoor neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware, is a community challenged by violence, especially due to the prevalence of guns, gangs and drugs — which often enter from the outside. Committed to serving their community, the Bellefonte Lions Club is doing its part to turn the area around. The club’s involvement started with a chess club for kids. Then they created a bike club. When kids wanted to ride bikes, but didn’t have them, they secured…more...Paws of ComfortDriving through North Attleboro, Massachusetts, Deborah Horner, district governor for District 33-S, came to a stop when she spotted a young woman training a dog. “I pulled into her yard and I said, ‘Hey, are you a dog trainer?’” recalls Horner. “She said ‘yes’ and I gave her the spiel about Lions.” That spiel was not only about Lions, but about Southeastern Mass Paws of Comfort, a specialty club formed in 2020 that brings trained…more...Uncovering a LegacyElmo Kelley of Fontana, California, never imagined a day of spring cleaning would uncover a bridge from the past that would lead him into his future. Tucked away in storage and preserved in pristine condition was a bright purple and yellow Lions hat adorned with colorful pins — a time capsule of Kelley’s grandfather, Felix Justo Lopez, who served as a Lion in Cuba in the 1950s through the early '60s. “My grandfather was president…more...Off the GridAfter a week at Lions’ Licola Wilderness Village in the high country of Victoria, Australia, campers go home with more than increased confidence and fun memories with new friends. They also take with them a feeling of pride from living off the grid and helping the environment. But that wasn’t always the case. The township of Licola, about 250 miles (254 km) east of Melbourne, is owned entirely by the Lions Clubs of Victoria and…more...A Fresh StartIn New Jersey, the Edison Visionary Lions Club has been busy putting out welcome mats for their new neighbors, two refugee families from Afghanistan. They are the first club to participate in Lions International’s new service opportunity, Engage to Change, a pilot program co-sponsored by Welcome.US that helps clubs partner directly with a local resettlement agency in welcoming and supporting refugee families as they start anew. Mahesh Chitnis, club president and past council chairperson, says…more...Clean Water Year RoundThe village of Barão de Guaicuí, located in Gouveia, a neighboring municipality of Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is a place of scenic beauty with waterfalls and mountains that attract visitors for hiking and outdoor sports. In 2013, the water source supplying the area was nearly dry during the time of greatest need. Village residents approached the Diamantina Lions Club with an action plan to protect and conserve the source by planting native seedlings. The club…more...Nurturing Hearts and Minds: The Lions Quest Journey at Lincoln Elementary School“When we provide programs like Lions Quest, it’s something our children will carry for the rest of their lives,” says Dr. Tamara Young, director of student services at Lincoln Elementary School in Calumet City, Illinois. “One day they are going to be the leaders of our community, so we want to invest in our students and understand the type of curriculum that can be supportive of building their character.” In March 2020, the school implemented…more...Riversyde 83: Easing Food Insecurity with Support from LCIFBeing able to fully grasp how deeply hunger affects lives can be difficult if you have not faced it yourself. Almost 1 billion people worldwide experience food insecurity and in Haldimand and Norfolk County, Canada, one in nine households are food insecure due to poverty. Addressing the issue of hunger, however, is not just about numbers. To truly make a difference, hunger relief must be approached with empathy and innovative action. For Lions around the…more...