AltruVision: a Lions Eye Bank formerly the Lions Eye Bank of the Delaware Valley was established in 1957 by a small group of Lions from the tri-state area to provide corneas for transplant and education. The Eye Bank recovers approximately 1500 eye donations and facilitates over 900 corneal transplants annually. They are currently located at the Gift of Life building at Third and Callowhill Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
BEACON LODGE is a Pennsylvania Lions sponsored 583 acre camp in Central Pennsylvania established to provide a camp for the blind, visually impaired, disabled and special needs of adults and children. The activities are much like a regular camp with hiking, swimming, arts and crafts, games, camping and canoeing. With special adaptations, the camp is able to offer archery, rifle range, climbing wall, and a zip line. The camp has a children’s village and adult housing units. Our Lions club supports this camp with contributions via a wish list, camp sponsorships, transportation of local campers, and volunteer work weekends. One of our members is on the Board of Directors.
ROADSIDE CLEAN-UP- Lions club members remove litter from a designated area along Rt. 562 from St. Lawrence to near Stonersville. This is done 4 times a year and we have received a 10-year certificate from the Pennsylvania Deptartment of Highways.
RESTORATION COMMITTEE- We serve our community by offering our help in small maintenance projects we feel comfortable in handling for the elderly or disabled.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS- One of our budgetary items each year is to make money available for the purchase of eye glasses, as well as to provide eye exams or medical assistance to needy individuals. We collect, store, donate and maintain medical appliances for distribution throughout the county. We have a storage shed that is being provided by Schwarzwald Lutheran Church.
COMMUNTIY, STATE, AND INTERNATIONAL DONATIONS- We support numerous organizations in the community, state, and the nation each year. The Board of Directors develops the yearly budget, in which we list all anticipated income and distributions, and then present it to the club in September for approval.
COLLECTIONS- Our club collects the following items;
Aluminum Tabs- We have collected tens of thousands over the years which are turned into cash to support the Hershey Ronald McDonald House. This is a state-wide Lions program. Tabs can be from soda or beer cans as well as any other foods with aluminum tabs. If you wish to collect for us, you can contact any of the officers on the contact list.
Eyeglasses- Collection boxes are placed thru-out the Exeter Community Library he community to collect glasses for use in sight preservation in other countries. Our club has collected thousands of eye glasses over the years. This is an International Lions program. Box locations include America's Best Eyeglasses, Auman Funeral Home, Boscovs Distribution Center, Boscovs Optical Center, Christ Episcopal Church, Delaney Eye Care, Dr. Larry Behm, Exeter Senior High, Exeter Township Library, M & T Bank, National Penn Bank, Owatin School, Pennside Presbyterian Church, Readner's Market, Sams Wholesale Club, St. Catherine Church, Super Walmart Optical Center, Susquehanna Bank, Theo C Auman Funeral Home, Trinity UCC Church, Wyndham Advisors, & Wyomissing Church of the Bretheren.
Baseball Caps- We collect these for use in third world countries by cataract patients. The caps protect the eyes after cataract surgery from the sun.
COMMUNITY HOLIDAY BAGS- An annual event in which we give holiday meals to needy families in the community about a week before Christmas.
LEO CLUB- We sponsor the Exeter High School Leo Club. This is the youth version of the Lions Club and is a national program. The idea is to mentor, share experiences and volunteer service in the community. The hope is that a Leo will become a Lion in the future or at least continue the Lion Motto of “We Serve”.
EXETER AREA FOOD PANTRY- We donate food and funds to support the Exeter Area Food Pantry. Our members also participate in the monthly set-up and food distribution process. Our Pantry serves approximately 200 families monthly.
TOY DRIVE for the Exeter Food Pantry- We donate toys and participate in the sorting and distribution of Christmas Toys for the children of the families served by the Exeter Food Pantry
SCHOLARSHIP & AWARDS- We provide a scholarship to a deserving Exeter High School Senior based on academics, morals, service to the community and school. We also provide a Student of the Month award (savings bond) to a deserving senior, usually a Leo.
LEADER DOG FOR THE BLIND - Besides supporting our local, district and LCIF organization's programs (Vision Resource Center- VCR), (Kids-Sight), (Sight First campaigns) for blindness and the visually impaired, we have supported the Leader Dog for the Blind organization for a number of years.
KIDSIGHT is an initial screening program for vision problems for preschool children conducted by the Lions Clubs of Berks and Chester
COMMUNITY PROJECTS - Over the years we have provided materials and labor to replace roofs on the community picnic pavilion, build the Exeter Skate Park, provide specialized equipment for the blind and vision impaired at the Community Library, and assisted in several community projects.
BING MILLER FOUNDATION - A yearly cash grant for a severe health condition that places a hardship upon the family or individual. Up to 3 rewards annually form the Lions District. Most times it is for a child or adolescent.
LIONS OF PENNSYLVANIA FOUNDATION - The purpose of the foundation is to develop, manage and distribute funds to help Lions Clubs provide services designed to meet existing and emerging needs that will improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania residents.
LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION (LCIF)- Provides grants for special projects as described above throughout the world, and to assist in disaster relief, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, etc.
This is a small sampling of how Lions thru service labor and financially we “SERVE” our community, the nation and the world. Want to learn more about Lions go to the LCIF computer site www.lionsclubs.org.
