Vermillion South Dakota Lions Club

The Vermillion Lions Club meets the needs of our local community (and the world) every day because we share a core belief – to serve!

The Vermillion Lions Club has a rich history. Founded in 1950, we are known for fighting vision problems, but we also volunteer for many different kinds of community projects – including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding youth and seniors and the disabled.

The Vermillion Lions Club gives sight. By supporting Kids.See preschool vision screenings. By providing free eye examinations and corrective lenses (and hearing aid assistance) to needy members of the community. By collecting used eyeglasses (and hearing aids) for reuse around the world. By supporting efforts to control diseases that contribute to blindness, like diabetes awareness and measles vaccinations. By supporting the South Dakota Lions Eye and Tissue Bank, and Leader Dogs for the Blind. And by contributing to the Lions Clubs International Foundation and its SightFirst Program, which works to eradicate blindness.

The Vermillion Lions Club serves our youth. Our projects support local children and schools through scholarships, recreation, HOBY Leadership programs, Junior Achievement, Special Olympics, Boys State and Girls State sponsorships, Scouting, Peace Poster Contests, and the Vermillion Public Schools.

The Vermillion Lions Club fights hunger. Lions help organize the annual Christmas Food Box Program that brings needed supplies to dozens of local households over the holidays. Our members support Meals on Wheels and the Community Welcome Table. We also support the Backpack Program for school children, and the community Food Pantry.

The Vermillion Lions Club reaches out to help during disasters. By preparing to support first-responders in the event of local disasters, and through financial support of our Lions Clubs International Foundation to help communities following natural disasters - like the midwest tornado outbreak, Hurricane Sandy, and typhoon victims in the Philippines. Those effected are provided with immediate needs such as food, water, clothing and medical supplies, and assisted with long-term reconstruction.

The Vermillion Lions Club supports our community. In large ways and small, we help the organizations that make Vermillion a special place to live: the Vermillion Police and Fire Departments and Public Library, the W.H. Over, Austin Whittemore and National Music Museums, Vermillion Public Transit, the Main Street Center, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Lions Park and Clay County Fairgrounds, the Dakota Days Parade, Clay County Veterans Memorial and the Vermillion Cemetary, Sanford Hospice, Vermillion Beautiful and the Vermillion Arts Council - and many more.

The Vermillion Lions Club is active. Our motto is "We Serve." We are part of a global service network, doing whatever is necessary to help our local and global communities.

The Vermillion Lions Club can be reached at sdvermillionlions@yahoo.com if you have a request for support, or are interested in joining us, or if you have any other questions. We look forward to hearing from you.

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.