Willmar Noon Lions Club - Lions e-Clubhouse

Willmar Noon Lions Club's Charitable Fund

In late 2025, the Willmar Noon Lions Club began a Willmar Area Community Foundation "Field of Interest" Fund called the Willmar Lions Charitable Fund. The Fund will be utilized for the purpose of supporting the charitable activities of the club. The Fund shall benefit persons that living, working, and being educated within the community through contributions to local non-profit organizations and local units of government for various purposes that positively impact the community.

Projects and services that the Club will choose for funding through the Fund will include beneficial infrastructure projects, educational programs, public services, health related services and research, etc. Funding will assist the principal causes/prioriites of the Club and Lions Clubs International: youth, sight, hearing, hunger, diabetes, environmental causes, local disaster relief, and more. Funds will also go towards community improvements to parks and trails, library and educational needs, and other important local projects that help improve the community. With the guidance of the Willmar Area Community Foundation, the Willmar Noon Lions Club shall determine which eligible projects and services to fund.

The Willmar Noon Lions chose to start this Charitable Fund for a couple of key reasons. First, the club is currently volunteering at the Willmar VFW Post 1639 in helping run their weekly Wednesday evening bingo games. (See more information below.) While this helps the VFW bring in customers on what typically would be slow nights, they can donate to the Club's Charitable Fund as it meets their requirement to fund 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, which the Willmar Area Community Foundation qualifies. Another similar reason for the fund is for the allowing individuals, organizations, and businesses to donate funds to the Charitable Fund for specific projects the Club may be raising dollars for that meet the eligibility of charitable giving to to 501(c)(3) organization.

Willmar Lions Children's Sight and Hearing Fund

In addition to the Willmar Lions Charitable Fund, the Club has also begun another Willmar Area Community Foundation "Field of Interest" Fund called the Willmar Lions Children's Sight and Hearing Fund. The, Club, and a matching donation from Lion Donn Winckler, provided $20,000 towards the Fund's startup. It is hoped that in future years that besides Lions continued support, that other donors from the community will assist with contributions to help ensure long-term success of this project.

The Club is partnering with the United Community Action Partnership (UCAP) to assist with the project's administration, that will assist income eligible families to help pay for children's eye and hearing exams, as well as for needed eyeglasses and hearing aids. UCAP has experience assisting low-income families with a variety of programs, and they are a 501(c)(3) organization, needed to be utilize the Foundation's Fund. UCAP will work with families that apply for the program to see if they qualify for funding; and if so, guide them through the process and arrange payment to the optical or hearing aid establishments that were utilized. They willl also help determine if other sources are available that should be used prior to using the money from the Fund. The prrogram may also assist with funding other children's sight and hearing needs, as well as assisting with the needs of blind and deaf children.

Income-qualifying applicants must be Willmar residents, or attend a school, childcare facility, or HeadStart program located within the City. Families that are eligible for other funding sources must seek them out prior to being funded through this program. This will make sure funds are able to assist the maximum number of children as possible.

Besides quality-of-life needs, good sight and hearing are essential for a child's learning because children take in most of their information through their eyes and ears. Strong vision and hearing help children stay engahed, build confidence, and reach their full learning potential.

Sight, hearing, and youth are all part of Minnesota Lions Clubs' top funding priorities. This Fund will work together with the Club's KidSight eye screening program of the Lions MD5M KidSight Foundation, as the Minnesota Lions Hearing Foundation's hearing screening program. There is an article about the KidSight program found on this website.

Club Fundraising Projects

Willmar Noon Lions Volunteer at Weekly VFW Bingo Nights

With the volunteer assistance of the Willmar Noon Lions Club, the Willmar VFW Post 1639 holds Wednesday evening Bingo games starting at 6:30 PM. Sales of bingo game packets begin at 5:30 PM. Bingo happens every Wednesday except for the summer months. The club has a minimum of four volunteers for each bingo night, selling full packets of of bingo games and individual game sheets prior to each bingoo game played. Through this assistance, the Willmar VFW contributes profits from the bingo events to the Willmar Lions Charitable Fund that is set up by the Willmar Area Community Foundation. The Charitable Fund is discusses above. Bingo helps bring customers to the VFW on what would normally be slow nights. The many participating bingo players purchase food and drinks at the VFW. As such, the partnership is a win for both the Club and the VFW.

Scheduled Willmar Noon Lions Fundraisers:

January, TBA, 2026 - Chad Norsten Pool Tournament for Diabetes - Willmar VFW
April,TBA, 2027 - Lions' Bowling Tourament - Alley on Ash, City of New London
September 13, 2026 - Lions' Pancake Feed Fundraiser for support of local programs, etc. - Willmar Community Center (SEE DETAILS BELOW)

Note: Look for more details closer to events occuring. One hundred percent of the proceeds support the causes for the fubdraiser. All contributions or gifts to the Willmar Noon Lions Club may NOT be deductible as charitable contributions (IRS Code).

Other Scheduled Willmar Noon Lions Events:

July 10; 2025 - Installation of New Officers - Club Meeting at Willmar VFW

Examples of Willmar Noon Lions Club's Activities/Projects:

Help provide free eye exams and eyeglasses for disadvantaged children in the Willmar area where other programs are unable to provide the financial support.
Collect used eyeglasses and hearing aids for worldwide distribution.
Provide free child eye screening at Willmar Public Schools and elsewhere through the Lions KidSight Program.
Support of local and statewide education about hearing and vision services, including the Minesota Gift of Sight (the state's Eye Bank Donor Program).
Help provide diabetes education and testing locally and statewide.
Annually provide scholarships to Willmar Public School students who are serving their community.
Support the Leader Dog Program which offers services to both sight and hearing-impaired people, and the Minnesota Can Do Canines Program.
Sponsor and support major fundraisers such as the club's annual Pancake Feed fundraiser, and the annual Bowling Tournament fundraiser.
Provide funding assistance to local organizations that meet our club's priorities such as the YMCA, United Way, and the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf. Assistance is also provided to Lions sponsored programs.
Salvation Army bell ringing.
County Fair ticket sales at fair gates.
Lions Park cleanups and support of the park's Dog Park
Numerous other activities and events.

2026 Pancake Day Fundraiser

The Willmar Noon Lions hold their annual 2026 Pancake Day Fundraiser on Sunday, September 13th at the Willmar Community Center. Hours are 7:30 am until Noon. It is the club's largest fundraiser. Pancakes and sausages are served by Chris Cakes. Refreshments are also served. One hundred percent of the proceeds of the event support local programs for sight, hearing, diabetes, youth, and more. More Information will come closer to the event.

Photo of 2024 Pancake Day

Spring Club Fundraiser

No-Tap Bowling Tournament, Saturday, April TBA, 2026 at Alley On Ash in City of New London

The 2026 annual spring bowling tournament at the Alley On Ash was a very successful event again raising funds for the clubs' communiuty charitable causes.

The tournament's format is like Scotch Doubles. Bowled as individuals. Round 1 of 4 games, top half bowling Round 2 0f 2 games. Top half bowling 3 of 1 games for position.

The Willmar Noon Lions Thank the Tournament's sponsors and the Alley on Ash.

Photo is from the 2024 Lions Bowling Tournament