Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign – Bell Ringing!
Each year Club members take a turn at “ringing the bell” and manning the kettle for the Salvation Army’s annual campaign. We have been fortunate in the past to be assigned to Tops Friendly Market where were able to stay out of the elements by being inside in the vestibule! We have done well there in the past – possibly due to the elf outfit and reindeer antlers worn by a couple of our members.
Annual Kid’s Fishing Derby
Since 1977 the Canandaigua Lions have held an annual fishing derby for kids 14 years and younger. This is one of the Club’s favorite activities, and now adults who fished with us as youngsters are bringing their own children to participate! The event is typically held on a Saturday in August at the City Pier in Canandaigua. We have had as few as 48 kids participate – and as many as 150! Prizes are awarded for the heaviest carp, the heaviest fish (other than carp) and the most accumulated weight caught; there are also numerous door prizes each hour of the derby. Local merchants have been very generous in helping the Club with these prizes.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Typically each year the Canandaigua Lions sponsor the Red Cross year-end blood drive. Prior to the event – held at the end of December at the Canandaigua Fire Department – Club members are given a list by the Red Cross of previous donors. We call those on the list to let them know about the upcoming event and to offer to set up a specific timeslot for them. During the two-day blood drive our members take turns staffing the “canteen”. After going through the blood donation process, this is where donors sit, relax, and have something to eat and drink before getting on the road to continue their day. Our members have also provided cookies or other snack items for the canteen to supplement what the Red Cross provides. It is great to chat with other volunteers and it is interesting to meet the people who are so committed to helping others by giving blood.
Fun Nights at Continuing Care Center
Once each month Club members hold Bingo night for residents of the M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center. Fun night at the CCC is typically held the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The residents (and Club members!) look forward to our monthly visits and the opportunity to chat!
Christmas Shoe Project
The Canandaigua Lions Club supports the Canandaigua Churches in Action which feeds and clothes those requesting help. At Christmas, many families ask for shoes and boots for their children. The Lions Club purchases between 20 - 30 pairs of shoes for these children. They are wrapped and delivered and distributed by local churches for families to place under their trees for Christmas.
Recycle for Sight
For many years, individual Lions Clubs and Districts in the United States, Canada, and several other countries have collected used eyeglasses and hearing aids for distribution to the needy in developing nations. The World Health Organization estimates that the eyesight of one-fourth of the world’s population can be improved through the use of corrective lenses. That translates to 500 million people who could easily have improved vision. Recycling a pair of eyeglasses costs as little as eight cents; however, the expense for correcting poor vision is astronomical to those in developing countries. In many countries an eye exam costs as much as one month’s wages.
Even if one can afford these exorbitant costs, seeing a doctor is very difficult, for there is often only one doctor for hundreds of thousands of people. Poor eyesight that is left untreated can cause blindness or force adults into unemployment; however, in many developing areas there is little choice. Recycled eyeglasses are typically sent overseas due to legal constraints.
The Lions Eyeglasses Recycling Program was adopted as an official service activity of Lions Clubs International in October 1994. The goal of the program is to meet the demand for quality eyeglasses in developing nations.
There are 13 official Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers in the world; Lions volunteer their time and services to prepare the eyeglasses for distribution, cleaning, and categorizing each pair by prescription. Optical missions sponsored by Lions clubs and other groups distribute donated eyeglasses to needy people. In addition, programs have been established to train prisoners to prepare donated eyeglasses. These individuals are provided with an opportunity to learn skills for use when released and the satisfaction of knowing they are helping others to the local Lions responsible for managing their respective programs.
All types of hearing aids, eyeglasses and sunglasses, prescription and non-prescription, are acceptable.
Lions District 20E2, encompassing 45 clubs in the mid-section of New York State, is very involved in the collection process. Most of these clubs place collection boxes around their local area. Glasses are gathered and sent to the Canandaigua Lions Club – the District’s eyeglass “processing” center. The Canandaigua Club members sort the plastic from the metal glasses. Metal is eventually sent to a recycler – funds raised from this metal are typically used to provide eye exams and glasses for needy individuals in our own communities. Fully intact plastic framed glasses are packed and sent to Lions Recycling Center where they are classified, cleaned, and packaged according to their prescription strength. Prepared glasses are stored in the warehouse until they are requested for an eyeglass dispensing mission.
To donate used eyeglasses, look for specially marked Lions Recycle for Sight collection bins located throughout your community (listed on a separate document accessed on our Home page). Make a difference in someone’s life!
