The La Crosse Lions provide many services in the community and in Wisconsin. The following is a list of the projects of the Lions:
The Lions are volunteer ushers on the second Friday night for each of the plays.
Dollars for Dogs
This is a fundraiser for Leader dogs for the blind in which is tracked by the business that is given a kit from a club representitive and wanting to run the fundrasier on thier own time line.
Easter Egg Hunt
On the Saturday before Easter Sunday the Lions conduct an Easter Egg Hunt in Myrick Park for children up to age 12. There are many eggs to find and some very nice raffle prizes. All in a safe environment. Check our Facebook page for more information as we approach Easter.
*Euchre Tournament
The La Crosse Lions Club holds two Euchre tournaments, September and April, for a fundraiser.
*Ground Hog Dinner
Each year on Ground Hog Day the Lions serve the best ground hog dinner in the midwest (actually it's pulled pork with all the trimmings). The dinner is traditionally held on Ground Hog Day, Feb. 2 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the Moose Lodge on Ward Avenue in La Crosse. Tickets are available from any Lion member or from the Moose Lodge.
The La Crosse Lions Club ushers at each La Crosse City Band concert in the summer at Riverside Park, Wednesday evenings at 7:00. We also sell popcorn and pop for a fundraiser in partnership with the La Crosse City Band.
*Promote Literacy
The Lions has a partnership with Scholastic Books where they get greatly discounted books to give away to children. These books are distributed at various venues to encourage children to read.
*The Rich Coaty Memorial Eye Clinic
The Rich Coaty Memorial Eye Clinic is a project in a association with the St Clare Health Mission where the La Crosse Lions Club provides a free eye exam and when necessary a presciption pair of eye glasses. The clinic is held the first Wednesday of each month at the Family Vision Center in La Crosse. Individuals need a referral from the St Clare Health Mission to partcipate in the clinic.
*Ride for Sight
The La Crosse Lions club will hold their seventeenth annual Ride for Sight on Saturday, August 3rd, 2024. The proceeds go to help support the Rich Coaty Memorial Eye Clinic and other vision projects. See the separate page for this event.
Each year the La Crosse Lions have a tree in the Rotary Lights display, participate in the Rotary Lights parade and act as volunteers for one night during Rotary Lights.
*Scholarships
Each year the Lions provide six $400 scholarships, two to each high school in the city, for students entering the three higher education institutions in the city.
*Torchlight Parade
Each year the La Crosse Lions Club along with the UW-La Crosse Lions Club march in the Oktoberfest Torchlight parade.
*Vision Screening
The La Crosse Lions are available to conduct vision screenings at day care centers, schools, and other facilities using up-to-date technology for accurate assessment. When vision concerns are identified individuals are referred to a doctor for a comprehensive exam and services. We are excited to announce we will be adding hearing screenings along with the vision screening starting in 2025!
*White Cane Days
Each fall the La Crosse Lions Club holds White Cane days as a fundraiser to help support vision projects.
Recycling Project 2024-2025
This years Lions focused project is recycling plastic groceries bags. We hope to recycle enought to produce a few benches we can donate to the community!
*Other Projects
The La Crosse Lions collect, restore and distribute used eye glasses and hearing aids. We also provide hearing aids for individuals who cannot afford them.
The Lions of Wisconsin operate the Wisconsin Lions Eye Bank and provide the transportation of donated eye tissue to and from the Eye Bank to local hospitals.
The Lions of Wisconsin provide a free summer camp in Rosholt for visually impaired, hearing impaired, and diabetic children through the Wisconsin Lions Camp.
The La Crosse Lions have a branch club that supports Special Olympics and their athletes.
Lions provide diabetes educational materials to the public, recognizing that diabetes is a leading cause of blindness.
The La Crosse Lions provide support for community agencies when special help is needed, including the Pump House, Salvation Army, Family and Children's Center, Chileda, Hixon Forest, and the La Crosse Children's Museum.
The La Crosse Lions have a partnership with Scholastic Books where they distribute childrens books to needy children free of charge to promore reading.
The Lions support local youth activities, including Scouting and other youth projects. We sponsor a Youth Exchange Program and we promote world peace by sponsoring a Peace Poster Contest.
