Benton Pennsylvania Lions Club History

Over the past 32 years, the members of Benton's Lions Club have raised and donated approximately $375,000. A few recipients were Leader Dog, Beacon Lodge, LCIF, CFS II, Camp Victory, Northeast Eyebank, over "80" dinner and many others.

Through the years we have supported numerous auctions by selling food to help raise funds for charities. We have also participated in several fund raisers such as raffles for cash, Pennsylvania Lottery tickets, a Penn State Simplicity Garden Tractor, and a Ford Econoline Truck (which no one wanted to win), a gazebo (which everyone wanted to win).

We have also raised money by selling milk shakes, ice cream, barbeque chicken, peanuts, pretzels, played "polish poker", sold the "Game of Benton" crushed aluminum cans in Don King's barn, and participated in the Lions Journey for Sight.

On September 15th, 1983 President Donald King sent the application for Charter to International Association of Lions Clubs. We were organized by Lion Frank J. LaCrosse, Deputy District Governor from the Kulpmont Lions Club.

The club’s first meeting was held on Tuesday, September 20th, 1983 in the Benton Fire Hall.

Our first female member was admitted to our club on April 20th, 1989. Currently, our club has 38 members of which 18 are women. We have two life members, eight Melvin Jones Fellows, two Pa. Lions, a District Governor, a Region Chairman, a Zone Chairman and a District Treasurer.

The club’s first fund raiser was a raffle for cash prizes to cover the expenses of Charter Night. On this Charter night we had 40 members listed, of which our guiding lion was Dr. William H. Gearhart from the Berwick Lions Club.

We held our first Christmas party with our wives on December 20th, 1983.