Lake Sumter Lions Club

The Villages, Florida - United States

Giving Back

The Lions motto is "We Serve."  Included is the Lake Sumter Lions giving back to the community, especially in the areas of vision.

Lions Donate to "Night to Shine" event

Lake Sumter Lions Esther Ann Howell Walton presented a check for the Night to Shine (NTS) event to NTS Leadership Team in The Villages. Tim Tebow and his Foundation is celebrating their 10th year of ‘Night to Shine’, which is an annual prom night for individuals with special needs.

 

Lake Sumter Lions Support SOZO Kids

At a recent Friends of SOZO Kids meeting, Lake Sumter Lion Eileen Sabatini Disinger presented a check to President Ed Latimer. Also, Lion Eileen noted Lake Sumter Lions preparation of meals for the SOZO Kids After School program. Additionally, Lake Sumter Lions screen the vision of children (aka KidSight) during the Back to School Bash in August. Community Service! SOZO Kids are children who live in the Ocala National Forest, usually in poverty.

 

Lions Donate Golf Tournament for Scholarships

Lake Sumter Lions welcomed our Guest Speakers, Patrice and Ken Fisher from the Sophisticated Gents of Florida and The African American Club of The Villages. The LS Lions Club donated $$$ for a hole sponsor in the Friendship Golf Tournament. Patrice and Ken briefly talked about the golf tournament and the resulting scholarships given to high school graduates in The Villages, Leesburg, Wildwood and Lake Weir.

 

 

Lions Donate to Wildwood Soup Kitchen

Lions Bunny and John presented a $$ donation check to the Wildwood Soup Kitchen from the Lake Sumter Lions.  The Wildwood Soup Kitchen serves the poor, the hungry, and the lonely by providing healthy, nutritious meals.  They also deliver meals to shut-ins and others who are unable to come to the kitchen.  For more info, go to their web site at http://www.wildwoodsoupkitchen.org

Donation to Deaf and Hearing Services

Lake Sumter Lion PDG Ed presented a check to the Deaf and Hearing Services of Lake and Sumter Counties for their work with the hearing impaired.  Lions collect used hearing aids which are donated to DHS who refurbish and distribute the hearing aids to needy people within the two counties.

 

Lions Present a Check to Friends of SOZO Kids, Inc.

Lake Sumter Lions John, Bunny, Eileen and Dan attended the October 10th General Meeting, of the Friends of the SoZo Kids, Inc. Lion Eileen presented a LS Lions Club's donation check to Linda Casey, the President of Friends of SoZo Kids. Lake Sumter Lions also support the SoZo Kids by preparing after-school meals three times a month.

Lions Donate to Local Food Pantries

Lake Sumter Lions Club collected $$$ at the recent Food Drive from generous Villagers.  Monies were given to two local Food Pantries.  (Left) President John Hanna presented a check to the Lady Lake Christian Food Pantry.  (Right)  Lion John presented a check to the Wildwood Food Pantry.

 

Lions Donate to Operation Shoe Box

Lake Sumter Lions Cecile and Mary Alice presented a check from the Lake Sumter Lions Club to Operation Shoebox to help fund the mailing cost to send packages overseas for our military personnel overseas.

 

Lions Donate $$$ to Food Pantries

During the recent Lions Food Drive, Villagers contributed $$ in donation jars (in addition to food), located at each Rec Center.  The Lake Sumter Lions Club then divided the funds among three local food pantries.  Lions John and Bunny presented checks to:  Beyond the Walls in Fruitland Park; Wildwood Food Pantry; and Christian Food Pantry.

 

Lions Donate to Deaf and Hearing Services

PDG Ed presented two donations to the Deaf and Hearing Services of Lake and Sumter Counties, located in Leesburg. The first were hearing aids and associated items donated by the public and collected by Lions via the Eyeglass Collection Boxes.  DHS refurbish and distribute these items to the needy within Lake and Sumter Counties.  The second donation was a $$$ check from the Lake Sumter Lions Club.  For more info about the Deaf and Hearing Services, click here.

 

Lions Donate to New Vision 
Lion Chuck presented a donation check to New Vision for Independence CEO, Chantel Buck.   New Vision provides training to residents of Lake and Sumter Counties experiencing severe bilateral vision loss that is affecting their daily functioning in daily living, vocational, or academic activities.

 

Lions Supports OSB and our Troops

The Lake Sumter Lions received thank you notes for our $$ donation from Operation Shoe Box (OSB) and the troops to which OSB provides care packages. Our thoughts and prayers go to our military men and women, especially those who are serving overseas away from their families.

 

Lions Christmas Donation

Lake Sumter Lion Chuck presented a Christmas donation to LaRae Donnellan, President of Friends of SoZo Kids, Inc. (Notice the Lake Sumter Lions mask on Chuck!)

 

Lions Donate $$$ for Food

Recognizing the need for the basics (such as food) during this pandemic, the Lake Sumter Lions provided funds to assist: the Mother of Mercy Food Pantry and the Wildwood Soup Kitchen. LS Lions Chuck and John visited each facility and made the presentation of the checks.

 

Mother of Mercy Food Pantry with Director Thom Hornung

Wildwood Soup Kitchen

 

Lions Donate Used Hearing Aids

PDG Ed and Lion Jane delivered used hearing aids and good hearing aids batteries to the Deaf and Hearing Services of Lake and Sumter Counties, located in Leesburg.  These used hearing aids and batteries were obtained from the public in our used eyeglasses collection boxes. Note the mask worn by the DHS Director.  It has a clear plastic covering over her mouth so that hearing impaired people can read lips of a person with such a mask.   

 

Lions Served at the VIP Holiday Party

 

Lake Sumter Lions members served food at the Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) Holiday Party.  Lion John H arranged this community service.  The Villages newspaper noted this event recently in the Daily Sun. 

 

Lions Donate Time and $$ to Operation Shoebox

 

 

Lake Sumter Lions donated both their time and money to Operation Shoebox.  (Left) Three Lake Sumter Lions recently presented a check to Operation Shoebox.  (Right) Lake Sumter Lions are among the many residents of The Villages who spend 3+ hours every Monday packing special supplies and goodies for the US troops deployed overseas.  The mission of Operation Shoebox is to meet the needs of every military person with dignity and appreciation.

Lions Support Florida KidSight Foundation

Lion Ken Parrish (center), representing the Florida KidSight Foundation in Gainesville, gladly accepted a $$$ check from lake Sumter Lion and District 35-O KidSight Chair Chuck (left).  King Lion John is on the right.  The Lake Sumter Lions wanted to recognize and support the Foundation who evaluates all our "refers" from KidSight Screenings and contact parents accordingly.  Without the expert assistance from the KidSight doctors, our KidSight screenings would be incomplete. 

  

 

Lions Donate an Optical Magnifier Reader....Again

Lions John and Jane delivered an optical magnifier reader to Sam who lives in the Village of Rio Grande.  A retired police officer and federal agent, Sam is legally blind with no eyesight in one eye and reduced eyesight in the other eye.  The magnifier reader will enhance Sam's use of his cell phone which he uses to "surf the web."  The reader was previously donated to the Lions Club. 

 

 

Lions Donate to The Villages Honor Flight 
Representing the Lake Sumter Lions Club, Lion Marty presented a $$$ check to The Villages Honor Flight organization.  The mission of the Honor Flight is to honor American Vets by flying them to Washington D.C. to visit their various memorials.  For more info, visit their web site at www.villageshonorflight.org.

   

Lions Donate to New Vision 
New Vision for Independence representatives, Dr. Shelly Gerig, Director, and Ms Chantel Buck, CEO, recently spoke at the Lake Sumter Lions Club meeting.  (See Members & Meetings for details).  Afterwards, Club President John (aka Walter) presented Ms Buck with donation checks: a big one for the photo op and the small REAL ones to cash.  

 

 

Lions Donate Used Hearing Aids
Every quarter or so, PDG Ed and Lion Jane traveled to Leesburg to deliver used hearing aids and (good) batteries to the Deaf and Hearing Services of Lake and Sumter Counties.  These hearing aids and batteries were collected from the public in Lions eyeglass collection boxes.  After an overhaul of the hearing aids, the DHS distributes the hearing aids and batteries to the needy.  Click here for the location of the eyeglass collection boxes.

 

 

Lions Donate Another Optical Magnifier Reader

Recently, Lion John delivered an optical magnifier reader to amateur musician Bob who is visually impaired.  Bob is now able to read and play music.  The reader was previously donated to the Lions Club.   

 

Donations to New Vision for Independence

Lake Sumter Lions toured the New Vision for Independence facility in Leesburg, FL.  During this visit, Lions John and Connie (left photo) presented a check to this awesome organization. [Also, see "We're Social Too!" for more photos of the visit.] Additionally, Lion John recently delivered a magnifier reader to New Vision for use by or donation to clients.
New Vision for Independence provides rehabilitation, community education, and support services for people with low vision or blindness in the Lake and Sumter Counties and in The Villages. Click here for more info about New Vision. 

Lions Donate a Second Optical Magnifier Reader

Lake Sumter Lion John Hanna delivered an optical magnifier reader to John who lives in Lady Lake.  John is blind in his left eye and has limited sight in his right eye.  This magnifier reader will greatly enhance his ability to read correspondence, literature, etc.  These readers are donated to the Lake Sumter Lions Club who in turn donated them to those in need.

 

Lions Donate an Optical Magnifier Reader

Lake Sumter Lions John Hanna and John Thomson recently delivered an optical magnifier reader to Bernice, a Village resident.  Excellent for the sight impaired people, the Reader magnifies print on a letter, newspaper, book, etc.  Thanks Lions.

 

Lions Provide Motorized Assistance

Carol proudly rides the motorized scooter that the Lake Sumter Lions donated to her.  Lion John Hanna presented Carol the scooter which she says gives her the freedom to go around the block, something she hasn't been able to do in quite a while.  The scooter was previously donated to the Lions in the spirit of Lions giving assistance to others.

 

Lions Helped Deliver the Difference 

Lake Sumter Club Program Chair John (right) presents Duiane Deason with a donation check.  Duaine spoke to Club members about Deliver the Difference, particularly about The Villagers' contribution of efforts and money. Every 4th Thursday of the month, Villagers gather at Coconut Cove Rec Center to package meals for distribution in Florida and overseas.  For more info, go to http://www.deliverthedifference.org/

 

Lions Donate a Scooter

A woman needed a scooter and the Lake Sumter Lions met the need with a motorized scooter. Our reward was a big smile from her.

 

Lions Donate two Optical Magnifier Readers

Lion John recently delivered two Optical Magnifer Readers to visually impaired Harvey (left below) and Jennete.  These readers will assist these two recipients to independently read text and view photos and videos.  The readers were donated earlier to the Lake Sumter Lions Charities, Inc by two Villagers.  LSLC, in turn, donated the readers to these two recipients.