Lake Sumter Lions Club - Lions e-Clubhouse

Club Projects
The Lake Sumter Lions are proud to support our local & state communities
through various club projects.

For more details and photos, please go to our Face Book group page at Lake Sumter Lions Club.

Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) and Lions Golf

Lake Sumter Lions joins with the VIP Support Club members to play a round of golf at the El Santiago golf course. One Lion is paired with one visually impaired golfer. Lions drive the golf carts and assist VIP golfers in lining up their shots and in providing directions on the course. This is an ongoing project. Lions meet with VIP golfers the 2nd Saturday of every month, from Sept to May.

Lake Sumter Lions and Snack Pack

Lake Sumter Lions are participating in a new service project. 3rd VP Steven Frederickson is the lead, collecting food for the Snack Pack Program at the Wildwood Soup Kitchen. Lions donate snacks for children attending elementary and intermediate schools in Sumter County. Snacks are given out to select students every Friday for weekend food supplementation.

Lions 2025-2026 Peace Poster Contest

The Lake Sumter Lions Club again sponsored the Peace Poster Contest with The Villages Charter Middle School at Buffalo Ridge. Top four entries were awarded $$ checks. The First Place winning poster is forwarded to District 35-O for the further competition at that higher level. Thanks goes to the Charter School Art Teacher Kevin Ferney who encouraged students in their artistic endeavors. Also, thanks to Lions Linda and John Bradshaw who chaired this event.

KidSight and Lake Sumter Lions

Lake Sumter Lions conduct vision screenings of young children's eyes (aka KidSight) at day care centers, elementary schools (The Villages Charter School and Sumter County Schools), health fests, and back-to-school supplies events. Using these vision screeners, Lions screened young children's eyes for various disorders, to include hyperopia, myopia, astigmatism, anisometropia, anisocaria, and strabismus.

Since June 2016, the Club has screened over 34,000 children's eyes.

Sumter Schools Recognized the Lake Sumter Lions' KidSight Program

At a recent Sumter County School Board meeting, the Lake Sumter Lions were honored with a Certificate, "DistrictWide Outstanding Service to Schools Award," for the Club's KidSight vision program. Led by Lion Chuck, Lake Sumter Lion members screened students attending the Sumter County Schools.

Lions Prepare VIP Luncheons

Lake Sumter Lions assists in the preparation and serving of the Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) Support Group's quarterly luncheon, which is held at the Bridgeport Rec Center. This effort is coordinated by LS Lions Bob and Jean Hatten.

Lions Participate in the VIP Expo

The Lake Sumter Lions Club participates at the annual VIP (Visually Impaired Persons) Vision Expo at the Eisenhower Rec Center with a diabetes glucose screening table and a Lions VIP Golf table.

Lions Conducts Diabetes Screenings

Lake Sumter Lions conduct diabetes screenings, to include the monthly screenings at the American Legion Breakfast events.

Recycling Used Eyeglasses

Lake Sumter Lions recycle used eyeglasses in one of two ways. Eyeglasses are collected from collection boxes located at Rec Centers and other locations in The Villages. They are then sorted, boxed and stored in a nearby shed. They can be sent to the Project Right to Sight in Ocoee for further cleaning, sorting and distribution. Or they can be taken to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation Recycling Center in Rosholt, WI by LSL Club Members who are traveling "up north" to WI.

Lions Ring Bells for Salvation Army

Lake Sumter Lions annually volunteers as Bell Ringers for the Salvation Army during the holidays. For the past three years, the Lions have won the "Service Club Bell Ringer of the Year." Lion Bob Hatten is chair of this service activity.

Lions Prepares Meals for the SOZO Kids

During the school year, Lake Sumter Lions prepare an after school meal for approximately 45 SOZO Kids, improverished children who live in the Ocala Forest. The Club has 4 groups who each prepare a monthly meal that is delivered to the Sandy Acres facility.

Lions Provide Treats for SOZO Kids' Holiday Parties

Lake Sumter Lions and Eastport Lions gathered together to put together over 200 bags of candy for the SOZO Kids Halloween and Christmas parties. Both Lions Clubs also share the expense for cupcakes for the parties at both the Sandy Acres and Forest Lakes Park SOZO facilities.

The Villages Giving Showcases

Lake Sumter Lions participates in The Villages Giving Showcases with booths highlighting VIP Golf Outings, KidSight and the Club's other activities. The purpose of the Giving Showcase is to highlight local organizations, like the Lions, who give back to the community. Attendees talk to Lions and learned about our club's service events and fundraisers.

Lions Food Drives

Starting during the pandemic, Lake Sumter Lions began sponsoring food drives. The latest food drive was held at Winn-Dixie at Pinellas Place. Both food and $$ donations went to the Wildwood Food Pantry and the Wildwood Soup Kitchen.

2025 Lions Scholarships

Lake Sumter Lions sponsors 8 scholarships among three local high schools: The Villages Charter High School; Wildwood Middle High School; and the Leesburg High School. Lion John Wolf is Chair of the Scholarship Committee. Recipients are chosen by Lions who read the applications and rate the many entries. Alas, there are no photos of the recipients of the scholarships.

Used Hearing Aids

Lake Sumter Lions Club collects used hearing aids, in addition to used eyeglasses. The Club then donates them to the Deaf and Hearing Services of Lake and Sumter Counties in Leesburg. Hearings aids are refurbished by an audiologist and then given to people in need by DHS.