Where Do Palmer Lions Serve
Lions International has 5 platforms that they ask all Lions Clubs to find ways to be part of. They include vision, hunger, diabetes, environment, and childhood cancer. Here's a good outline of where and how we are serving in those areas, as well as beyond them.
VISION:
1. Eye testing in schools, State Fair, etc.
- The Palmer Lions are very active in providing the children of Palmer access to Vision Screenings. We have been in most of the elementary school and have attended many children's events in order to offer vision screenings. Contact us if you would like a vision screening at your school, center, or program.
2. Helping visually impaired youth & adults with eye exams & glasses
- The Palmer Lions Club is dedicated to lending a helping hand to their community whenever possible. We try our hardest to assist people in their needs for glasses and seeing an optometrist/ophthalmologist. If you need assistant in obtaining an eye exam and/or glasses you can contact us, and we will send you an application form for assistance. After we receive the application form, a Lion member will contact you within 10 days with a response to your request.
- (The amount available for glasses does not include special provisions such as expensive frames, tinting, contact, etc. If special need is required, please attached a letter from your eye doctor stating the necessity and the club will see if additional funds are available.)
- Eye Glass/ Eye Exam Application Form
3. Alaska Center for the Blind annual event- Dining in the Dark
HUNGER:
1. Food Drives – Palmer Food Bank, Salvation Army Food Bank
2. Kidz Kupboard
- The first Tuesday of the month our Lions go out to the new Kids Kupboard facility to help prepare and serve a dinner meal to over 75+ children who need food. This program not only feeds these youth dinner, but also provides lunch for some of the local preschool programs.
- We also hand out lunches through this program during the summer months at local parks.
4. Participate in the Empty Bowl event
5. Ring bells for the Salvation Army at Christmas time
- Every Christmas the Palmer Lions Club members volunteer to ring the bell for our local Salvation Army. This year was a record breaking year for the amount of money raised while the Lions were ringing the bell. Just before Thanksgiving leading up to Christmas you can see Lions at the Palmer Fred Meyer ringing the bell.
- Lion Janet Kincaid ringing the bell for the Salvation Army.
DIABETES:
1. Financial support donation to the American Diabetes Association
2. Diabetes testing in partnership with local clinics
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Road clean-up
2. Bugge Park cleanup
3. Support for Valley Community for Recycling
CHILDHOOD CANCER:
1. Support for the Magic Yarn Project
Above and Beyond
YOUTH SUPPORT
1. Take tickets at local high school sport events
- The Palmer Lions are also huge supporters of our Palmer High School Athletics. We can be seen doing the gate for them at football, volleyball, and basketball games, along with the annual Lancer Smith wrestling meet.
2. Support specialty racing Lions group in Sutton
3. Sponsorship of Boy Scout Troop
4. 4H auction provide lunch and donate additional money for add ons
5. Free Little Library at Bugge playground park.
6. Provided financial support for a service dog for local elementary school
7. Supported stuff the bus with school supplies
8. Halloween Hollow – Financial support and volunteer activities
SENIOR, VETEREN, HOMELESS SUPPORT
1. Provide a fish fry at the Palmer Pioneer Home, 4TH of July
2. Homeless Connect – Provide Care kits, vision screening and reader glasses
3. Donation of coats for the homeless
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
1. Colony Christmas & Colony Days
- Twice a year, the Palmer Lions provides a $5 all you can eat Pancake Breakfast. They are always held on the Saturday mornings of Colony Days and Colony Christmas. Pictures from the Colony Days Breakfast and Parade.
2. Santa Claus – provide cookies and Santa Claus for the children
3. Take tickets at the State Fair
4. Palmer Gun Show – Money earned goes entirely back to the community.
5. Financial support for the Mat-Su Miners Baseball team
6. Sale of Christmas ornaments that highlight places around Palmer.
