MOUNT VERNON — Forty years of community service will soon be marked by the Mount Vernon Lions Club.
The local club, which has the motto of “We Serve,” will celebrate with an anniversary Charter Night at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Allison’s Finer Diner, 11587 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mount Vernon.
Unknown to many, the title Lions stands for “Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety.”
Formed on Sept. 17, 1970, the local Lions will gather for an evening of celebration, with District Governor Ron Keller serving as guest speaker who will speak on Lions Club accomplishments. Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Past District Governor Steve Tyo. Entertainment for the evening is yet to be determined.
“The Lions Club is known as ‘Knights for the Blind,’” said chapter secretary Betty Bemiller-Irwin. “The Lions were challenged by Helen Keller in 1925 to assist the blind, and much work toward this challenge has taken place ever since.”
The biggest project for the Lions clubs has been collecting eyeglasses, according to Bemiller-Irwin. Machines are also being purchased to perform eye checks for students entering kindergarten for families who can’t afford eye exams. The group also supports diabetes education.
