Burrillville Lions Club - Lions e-Clubhouse

Annual Burrillville Earth Day Clean Up - Held for more than 20 years - More than 200 people register each year to participate in the Earth Day Clean Up. We pick up tires, miscellaneous car parts, bicycles, and over two tons of litter each year. Our thanks go to all those who participate, the Burrillville Parks and Recreation Department, the Burrillville Conservation Commission, and to the community sponsors who provide supplies, refreshments and raffle prizes for the event.

The Scholarship Dinner is our newest fundraiser. Funds from the dinner and donations to the Scholarship Fund enable us to provide several scholarships each year to graduating seniors from Burrillville. In 2022, thanks to an anonymous donor, we were able to open the program to North Smithfield seniors.

Swim Program: The Burrillville Lions Club has sponsored the annual swim program since inception of the Club (over 70 years ago). Hundreds of local children have learned to swim under this program. We thank the Town of Burrillville for the use of the Spring Lake Beach facility, and the Smithfield YMCA organization for their assistance and support.

Annual Candy Sales: Sales of candy begin in September, and all Lions are encouraged to participate. Lion Tom Tatro has chaired the program for the past few years. Funds are raised for the Club’s charitable projects.

Vision Screenings: Every year, members of the Burrillville Lions Club use equipment provided by the Rhode Island Sight Foundation to offer vision screenings to students in Burrillville and North Smithfield upon school request.

Peace Poster Contest: The Peace Poster Contest is an event sponsored by the Club in conjunction with Lions Clubs International. Local school children participate by creating posters using the year’s chosen theme, and prizes are awarded to the top three entries. Winners go on to compete in the District and/or State, then the International competition.

White Cane Day: White Cane Day was initiated by Past District Governor Lion Arthur Covese to raise funds for sight prevention and restoration. Lion Members participate by standing at various merchant locations soliciting funds from local residents.

Adopt-a-Family: The Club annually adopts a family in need. Funds are raised, gifts are purchased, and the family receives needed items for Christmas.

Casino Bus Trip: Lions and their friends are invited to participate in a bus trip to a local casino. Funds raised are used for our charitable activities. This also provides a social activity for our Lions and friends.

Camp Mauchatea: Members of the club participate each year in Camp Mauchatea, a program that helps to guide Rhode Island's blind and visually impaired on the journey to adulthood.

Food Basket: Non-perishable items (or a $1.00 gift in lieu of) are collected at all regular meetings. Proceeds are donated to the RI Community Food Bank and/or to a local Church Food Bank. During the fall, non-perishable items are collected from the public for donations to needy families during the Holidays.

Aluminum Tab and Can Collection: All Lions receive aluminum tabs and aluminum cans for sale to raise funds for the Sight Foundation. Hundreds of pounds are collected annually, and all are encouraged to participate.

Eyeglass Collection: Lions collect eyeglasses from donation boxes hosted at various businesses in town. Collected glasses are sent to Regional Lions facilities to be cleaned, sorted, and distributed to needy receipients.

Club Survey: The Club conducts surveys of itself. The "Club Meeting Survey" is designed to make the meetings more meaningful and successful for its members.

Motorcycle Run: The Annual Burrillville Lions Club Motorcycle Run is held each spring/summer. Funds raised support our Children's Cancer Fund, the Sight Foundation, and other Lions Projects.

Adopt a Duck: The Club, along with the Harrisville Hose Company No. 1, has conducted an annual Adopt-a-Duck event for the past several years. Individual's donations are made to obtain a numbered duck that is set free with the other ducks to frolic in a pool of water provided by the fire department. As they race around the pool, attending children use fish nets to scoop out numerous ducks, and the order of the scooping determines the order of the various prizes offered at the event.