On Sunday, February 28, 2021, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club, Inc. held its Annual Black History Month Celebration with the community. This event was organized by Chairperson Lion Iris Allen and Co-Chairperson Lion Merle Warren. The event had over 60 attendees made up of Lions, Leos, members of St. Paul AME and St. Mary Magdalene RC churches, family, and friends Attendees were entertained by the St. Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church’s Liturgical Dancers who performed the song “Stand Up”, by Cynthia Erivo featured in the movie Harriet Tubman (2019). The dancers were riveting and moving as they seemed to sum up the mood and the hope for 2021. Master of Ceremony Lion Stephanie Simeon quizzed event attendees on unknown facts about Barbara Jordan, Norbert Rillieux, Charles Spaulding, and Mamie Katherine Phipps Clark. Furthermore, event attendees were inspired by the Sermonette delivered by Reverend Dr. Jerome Stembridge of the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church located in East Orange, New Jersey entitled “Being a Living Monument”. Rev. Dr. Stembridge encouraged attendees to not be dead in their actions but to be purposeful in their words, actions, and thoughts to serve the community. Club members received great feedback from event attendees and look forward to hosting their Annual Earth Day Celebration via Zoom on Sunday, April 25, 2021, from 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM on this year’s theme “Restore Our Earth”.
On December 21, 2020, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club, Inc. presented 19 gifts to the children of Dove House in their Annual Holiday Toy Drive. Dove House is a domestic violence shelter for women and their families. The children that received the gifts received in age from two months to seventeen years old. 1VP Lion Randy and Club Secretary Lion Iris delivered the toys to Dove House.
Beginning March 22, 2020, Club members have been assisting their neighbors and the community by providing weekly Wellness Check telephone calls, run errands, grocery shop, and assist in community food distribution and delivery of food in the communities of Far Rockaway, Laurelton, Rosedale, and Springfield Gardens. Members are happy to serve as they are armed with lots of love and concerns for the community as they answer the calls of their neighbors in need of food and a friendly voice due to the PAUSE in place for New York State residents COVID-19 pandemic.
On February 8, 2020, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club, Inc. held its Annual Black History Celebration at the Queens Public: Laurelton Branch Library. The event was held from noon to 2:00 PM. The event featured a Liturgical dance performed by the St. Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Liturgical Dance Ministry. Club Treasurer Lion Gloria presented her Annual List of Who Am I, that feature such facts on famous African Americans such as Hiram Revels, Mary Church Terrell, “Rube” Foster, Ethel Waters, and William C. Handy. The celebration ended with event attendees enjoying refreshments and creating friendship bracelets for family, friends, or themselves.
On a sunny afternoon on November 23, 2019, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club hosted a Community Workshop entitled Diabetes Awareness and Prevention. The District 20-K1 Reading Action Program Chairperson Lion Dr. Paulett Kenwood was a welcome guest at this event. The invited presenter for this workshop was Lion Dr. Ron Davis. Dr. Ron Davis presented on the three types of Diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes and the risk factors for Diabetes: being 45 and older, overweight, family history of Diabetes, physically inactive and where you live, learn, work and grow up can also affect your risk for developing diabetes. In addition, Dr. Davis spoke of the lifestyle changes that individuals could do to prevent or manage Diabetes. Some of these lifestyle changes that he encouraged individuals to do are to eat more whole foods, drink water instead of sugary drinks, increase physical, attend regular checkups and take medication as directed, and develop a care plan with your health care provider to manage diabetes. The audience was enlightened to learn about holistic medicines to manage or treat diabetes. In addition, Jasmine Velez, a representative from Blue Cross Blue Shields presented the various types of health plans and advice when selecting a health insurance plan. The event ended with a group photo and light refreshments.
On October 26, 2019, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club hosted their Annual White Cane Safety Day Event at the Laurelton Library for the community. This year’s theme was Technology to Aid Individuals with Vision Loss. Event Chairperson Lion Lowena Howard provided a Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentation that discussed: the significance of the white cane, the causes of vision loss, and current technology that is aiding individuals with vision loss to read printed material. Two devices discussed at the presentation were the Script View and the Script Talk. Both devices are provided by Envision and provide reading capabilities of prescription medicine bottles to prescribers in several different languages. In addition, Lion Lowena demonstrated the use of several portable CCTV (Closed Circuit Televisions) and a white cane to the audience. The event ended with light refreshments and the audience was able to demonstrate the techniques discussed during the workshop.
The Springfield Gardens Lions hosted their 2nd Annual Tea Social “Literacy Is Power” On Sunday, July 29, 2018, at 3 PM in the St. Mary Magdalene RCC Church Hall 136-20 219th Street Springfield Gardens, NY, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club held their 2nd Annual Tea Social themed “Literacy is Power” to raise money for Reach Out and Read of Greater New York. In addition to their ticket donation, each guest was asked to bring books to be distributed to Medical Facilities in the community that utilizes the Reach Out and Read program as well as Senior and Veterans Centers in the area. Everyone was treated to exotic teas, fruit punch with a wide selection of finger foods and desserts; one guest was heard saying “It was an event you can't bear to miss out on.” Mistress of Ceremony Club President Lion Stephanie Simeon regaled guests and kept the event flowing along with jokes, games, and wonderful door prizes. Council Member Donovan Richards Jr. of the 31st District of NYC “Spilled the Tea” with guests about the importance of Queens Libraries, the significance of literacy, and being a productive citizen to your community. While Dr. Wang the Branch Manager for the Laurelton Library accepted a donation of $500 on behalf of the Laurelton Branch of the Queens Borough Public Library System to assist in future literacy programs and events. The new Alpha Springfield Gardens Leos were installed by District 20K1 Zone Chairperson Lion Gloria Garraway. St. Mary Magdalene Liturgical Dancers performed, the Springfield Gardens Leos recited poems about reading and the power of words; and guests were dazzled as Nnecka Boyd and Najimah McKenzie sang the National Anthem and then Ms. Boyd belted out a magnificent solo. Words cannot describe the marvelous fun that guests from each table had as they visited vendors such as Traci Lynn Jewelry and modeled the hats from Malchijah Hats. But the hit of the evening could only be the Mistress of Ceremony’s catwalk across the floor to the song “Vogue" by Madonna. The event concluded with over 750 books collected and the club being able to make a $250.00 donation to the Reach Out and Read of Greater New York.
Vision Health: One Pair of Eyeglasses at a Time The Springfield Gardens Lion Club was able to collect and donate to the District's Eyeglass Collection on May 26, 2018, 92 pairs of eyeglasses. The club would like to thank the Health Guild Ministry of St. Peter's Episcopal Church located in Rosedale for their donation.
Dove House Chairperson Lion Sandra Townsend organized a successful event that featured individual gift bags for the 19 mothers of Dove House, a domestic violence safe home for battered women and their children.
Celebrating Earth Day 2018: End Plastic Pollution On April 21, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club. Inc. held its Annual Earth Day celebration at the Laurelton library. The event featured Earth day poetry readings, speeches, trivia, PowerPoint presentations, and listening and discussion about Michael Jackson's song Earth Song.
On February 24, 2018, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club held its Annual Black History Celebration for the Community. The event was held at the Queens Borough Laurelton Branch Library from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM. The event featured poetry, readings, Who Am I? PowerPoint presentations, and speeches from youth and adults. The event ended with a craft activity of event attendees making their paper quilts.
On January 9, 2018, District Governor Lion Charles McBride visited the Springfield Gardens Lions Club during their General Membership Meeting. He presented the club with the LCI Club Excellence Award for 2016 - 2017 and Lion Greta Salsbury with the 25 Year Charter Chevron Award for her years of services to Lions Clubs International.
DOVE HOUSE CHRISTMAS TOY CELEBRATION: DECEMBER 2017. Event attendee Lion Gloria reported club members provided gifts for 19 children ranging in ages from five months to 16 years old of Dove House. Dove House, is battered women and their children shelter located in Queens, NY. The residents and club members noted they had a wonderful time presenting gifts and singing holiday songs and carols.
December 16, 2017, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club held a successful Coat and Food Drive at the Queens Public Library located in Laurelton Queens. District Governor Lion Charles McBride and Zone Chair Lion Lensworth James of District 20-K1 came to support and provided donated items. The event was supported by Lions Clubs in Brooklyn and Queens. The club received 44 coats and 1 sweater to be donated to the NY Cares foundation and 73 food items which were donated to Christ the King RC Food Pantry. Lion Iris reported she received a telephone call from the food pantry thanking our club for the donations.
December 9, 2017, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club held its First Awards Brunch at Roma View Caterers located in Howard Beach, Queens, NY. The event honored the Every Day Heroes and presented each awardee with a Robert J. Uplinger Distinguished Service Award. The awardees were: Lions Iris Allen and Price Olivier, Dave Wang the Branch Manager of the Queens Borough Public Library: Laurelton Branch and Ridgewood Savings Bank: Laurelton Branch. The event was held from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM.
November 27, 2017, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club, Inc was able to prepare and donate four Thanksgiving Day baskets with all the food, fixings, and trimmings to families identified by Christ the King RC Church, St. Mary Magdalene RC Church, and St. John Baptist Church, Inwood.
November 25, 2017, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club, Inc held a Diabetes Workshop titled "Don't Sugar Coat It". The workshop featured a Health Presentation about Diabetes by Nurse Practitioner Veronica Williams-Goden. This workshop was in support and to recognize November 14 as World Diabetes Day. The workshop was held from 12 PM - 2 PM at the Queens Public Library located in Laurelton, Queens, New York.
October 15, 2017, Club members Lions Iris, Gloria, and Greta joined by Leos Cassidy and Ilana at the Annual Queens ACS Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk held at the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The walkers were able to provide individual donations and the club presented the District with a donation.
On September 24, 2017, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club was joined by 2nd Vice District Governor Lion Audrey Doorn and 3rd Vice District Governor Lion Deborah Harrison and the Installation of Officers Ceremony held at St. Mary Magdalene RC Church at 4:00 PM. The event was a joyous time as friends, family, Lions, and Leos came to support the Installation of Officers for the club.
On September 9, club members sorted and dropped off donations to Dress for Success, located in Queens, NY. The clothes collected were donated at the club's Female Empowerment Tea Social Fundraiser held in May 2017. The following items were collected at the event and were donated to Dress for Success: five dresses, eighteen pants, fourteen skirts, fifteen sweater tops, ten tops, Twenty-two suits, eighteen blazers, eleven pairs of shoes, and four accessories (belts – 2, necklace- 1, and purse – 1).
On September 4, 2017, the Springfield Gardens Lions Club collected and donated supplies for the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. This was the club's first community service project organized in response to the LCI and District 20-K1 call for clubs to donate goods to the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. The club collected 18 boxes of toiletries, cleaning, baby, safety, and paper products from the parishioners of St. Mary Magdalene RC Church and St. John Baptist Church, Inwood that were donated to the victims of Hurricane Harvey. It was noted club members Lions Iris and daughters, Gloria, Sandra, Stephanie, and friend April sorted and dropped off the donated goods at the collection site Cop Shop for District 20-K2 on September 4.
On Sunday, July 23, 2017, at the 11 AM mass, the members of the Springfield Gardens Lions Club were joined by PDG Lion Jacqueline Williams, PDG Lion Pauline Francis, and Lion Adina Callender, of the District 20-K1 Foundation to present a Matching Grant and Club check for $10,000 to the parish of St. Mary Magdalene RC Church. Several Lions from local Lions clubs attended the 11 AM mass and celebrated with the club in presenting this generous donation. The monetary donation will be used towards the rebuilding of the Church Hall. The St. Mary Magdalene RC Church Hall provides a meeting place for community organizations to host programs and services to meet the needs of children, youth, adults, seniors, and special populations. The Springfield Gardens Lions Club fundraised for five years and raised $5,000 and applied and received a matching grant from the District 20-K1 Foundation for $5,000 to present a $10,000 check to St. Mary Magdalene RC Church. Charter President Lion Greta I. Salsbury was very instrumental in obtaining the District 20-K1 Matching Grant Foundation.
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