Lions Club of McKinleyville
The Lions Club of McKinleyville is actively involved in the community. Members and their families donate approximately 300 hours per month on projects and programs that benefit the local community. The club’s main fundraisers are servicing the Lions Mint locations in McKinleyville and Arcata and the annual White Cane Day event. This is a three-day event in October where members man tables at several locations in McKinleyville to provide information to the community and accept donations which are used to fund exams and eyeglasses for residents. The club’s main service project is the annual Winter Express Children’s Christmas program. This year, we are anticipating the participation of approximately 700 students (K-5th) from six local elementary schools and over 200 volunteers to help make this excursion an event to remember. Members collect old eyeglasses, hearing aids, cell phones and ink cartridges for reuse/recycling programs.
The Lions Club of McKinleyville community involvement includes: four members serve on the Winter Express committee, two members serve on the Northcoast Lions Eye Foundation board, one member serves on the Redwood District Federated Women’s Club board, two members serve on the McKinleyville Area Fund board, one member volunteers her time tutoring elementary students in reading and one member serves on the North Coast Stand Down board.
The Lions Club of McKinleyville funds approximately 25-30 exams and glasses annually for local individuals in need. The club also provides free Spot vision screening events for local individuals. In one year, members screened over 1,500 individuals with approximately 10% being referred to an optometrist. The Spot Vision device can screen individuals of all ages and is proven to be helpful in early detection of vision issues in young children. Infants as young as six months old can also be screened, as this equipment does not require personal contact or verbal interaction and only takes seconds to provide accurate results for most individuals. Each person screened receives a printout of the results to show whether a follow-up appointment with an Optometrist is recommended.
The Lions Club of McKinleyville makes annual contributions to Northcoast Lions Eye Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind – Eureka Puppy Raisers program, City of Hope – Dollar & A Prayer, the Ear of the Lion Foundation, the Humboldt Breast and GYN project, North Coast Stand Down, McKinleyville Senior Center, as well as funding various requests throughout the year.
For more information, call Lion Cyndi Bainbridge at 707-496-9724.
