Early on in the history of Lions Clubs, Lions were challenged by Helen Keller to become "Knights of the Blind." Although local Lions clubs all over the world try to find the best ways to serve their local communities, the elimination of preventable blindness, and services to enhance the lives of people with vision problems remain a major focus of Lions International.

Lions Clubs in Lawrence

In 1993 the Lawrence Lions sponsored the creation of a new Lions Club. The River City Lions Club was chartered in 1994. The River City Lions Club was very active in Lawrence for fourteen years, but has been folded back into the host club, leaving the Lawrence Lions Club and the KU Campus Lions Club as the two remaining Lions organizations.

The Lions Clubs income comes from various fund-raising events, which have included sales at food items at Lawrence outdoor events, 5k and 10k runs on Lawrence streets and trails, Christmas season gift wrapping at Border's, pancake breakfasts, Lions Candy Day, a family concert and golf tournaments. Some projects are one-time only, and some are long-time annual events.

All money raised by Lions clubs is used for projects in our community and for state, national and worldwide projects through Lions Clubs International. Funds are distributed via the Lions Clubs of Lawrence Foundation.

Some of the things Lawrence Lions have done to serve our community:

• Lions give away 50 bicycles a year to needy kids, at the Douglas County Helmet Safety Fair and Bike Rodeo. Kids are then fitted for a free helmet, and go through the Safety Training Course. Bicycles are provided by the Lansing Correctional Facility bike shop, where inmates volunteer their time to rehabilitate donated bikes.
• Raised enough money to obtain matching funding and build a Habitat house for a local blind woman and her family
• Purchase glasses for children referred by the school system, and for needy local adults referred by local social organizations
• Support the Kansas Lions Band Foundation; high-achieving high school students travel the world representing Kansas at Lions events
• Support "the bus," the Kansas Lions Mobile Screening Unit; this mobile lab travels around Kansas, offering free screenings for diabetes, vision-related problems, hearing and blood pressure
• Provide and serve lunch (for up to 100) at Link Kitchen and dinner at the Drop-In Center
• Provide St. Paddy's day lunch for Habitat for Humanity volunteer crew
• Assist the school district in buying glasses for needy children when no social program can help.
• Helped establish and support a glasses clinic at Babcock Place.
• Collect and sort used eyeglasses; usable glasses are distributed to the poor in various countries around the world.
• Support the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation, including the Heartland Lions Eye Banks.
• Park cleanup - maintain the Lions-built shelter house in Broken Arrow park, and keep the park clean.
• Adopt-A-Highway - litter pickup along two miles of county highway near Clinton Lake.

Benefits of Membership in the Lawrence Lions Clubs

• Recognition through membership in the world's recognized leader in the service club field.
• Opportunity to exercise leadership abilities in a group situation, on Club, Zone, Region, District, State and International levels.
• New friendships and the sense of fellowship with your club members, and others throughout the world of Lionism.
• Opportunity to become involved in, and contribute to the welfare and enrichment of your community.
• Informative, provocative, educational (sometimes even humorous) meeting programs, a chance to find out about other services and organizations in your town.
• Ability to perform community services on a scale not possible for an individual alone.
• Opportunity for personal growth through service.
• Recognition through association with community leaders.
• Recognition of personal achievements within the organization: awards for outstanding service, leadership, perfect attendance, membership development, etc.
• Social activities: parties, picnics, District, State, and Lions International conventions.