Aberdeen Lions Make a Difference.....
The Lions Club of Aberdeen, Washington serving the people of the community for over SIXTY YEARS continues to address the needs of the greater Grays Harbor community.
In the mid sixties, the Aberdeen Lions Club was one of the first to step forward with help in creating the Pioneer Park Baseball complex and continues to support the Aberdeen Lions Little League team.
In the summer of 1977 under the leadership of Lion architect Will Foster, the Aberdeen Lions built and helped fund the seating area of the Driftwood Theatre. Lions members donated their time and labor to hammer, saw, and construct the entire 180 seat facility.
Working one or two hours each Monday morning at 7:30am, the Lions Club paper crew of eight to twelve members loads up to three tons of newspapers and magazines into a 52 foot semi-trailer for transport to a recycling firm in Longview. Being one of the biggest fund-raising projects of the club allows us to provide financial support for the many charities we support throughout the year. Those include the local food and clothing banks, the Union Gospel Mission, Salvation Army, Women & Children shelter, and several local projects.
Sight and Hearing
The Aberdeen Lions Club supports the Northwest Sight Foundation which includes the largest Eye Bank in the country as well as local eye care needs by providing eye exams and glasses for those who need assistance. Our club also supports the EyeCare WeCare Foundation who's President / Founder is a member of our club. Lion Dr. Jim Weyrich travels to remote villages in the Philippines twice a year and to provides about 4,000 free eye examinations and eyeglasses every year to the disadvantaged. The club received a matching IAG (International Assistance Grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation for the January 2011. The Aberdeen Lion were the sponsors and the La Union Lions Club in San Fernano in the Philippines was the host club. 1,407 people received eye examinations and glasses and 33 cataract surgeries and 17 ptergyium surgeries were performed. The Aberdeen Lions have also provided many less fortunate people in Aberdeen and surrounding areas with hearing aids in conjunction with the Norhwest Sight and Hearing Foundation. The club chairman for this program in Mike O'Connor.
Bicycles from Heaven
A project we inherited from the former Kiwanis Club has given over 1600 bicycles to needy harbor children and adults. With the dedicated effort of Jim Noggles and Harry Roumel, members secure, store, and transport used bicycles to the Stafford Creek Correction Center where they are refurbished into almost new condition. Our Lions Club funds the purchase of the necessary parts for the repairs.
Relay for Life
Under the current leadership of Lion Craig Anneberg, the majority of the members participate in the American Cancer Society's walk for cancer. Many members take turns walking the 24 hours, gaining pledges to help contribute the $4000-$8000 we raise to the American Cancer. Starting off the event with a great barbecue potluck it also becomes one of our favorite social events of the year too.
Lions are an international network of 1.3 million men and women in 205 countries and geographic areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world.
