"You can't get very far until you start doing something for someone else." Those words in 1917 from Melvin Jones started what is now known as Lions Clubs International (LCI). Within three years, what had started in Chicago, expanded to become an international organization, whose mission is "to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions clubs."
This year the Santa Monica Lions Club, founded in 1923 and part of a network of over 46,000 clubs worldwide, is going to be spending more time out in the Santa Monica and Westside communities. With a desire to not only financially support local organizations and health-related LCI projects, SM Lions will be found out in the community at least once a month helping and promoting the work of others. You will see us stuffing diaper bags for the Westside Family Services, walking to support and thank our U.S. Veterans, helping to feed others with a food drive for the Westside Food Bank, providing free vision and hearing screenings through Lions Eyes Across America, working with youth to find the leaders of tomorrow through our Student Speaker program, planting trees to help our environment and bell ringing for the Salvation Army, to mention just a few.
We are asking that you join us. As Lions we enjoy the camaraderie of working with friends and meeting to find new ways to help others. Not sure if Lions are for you? Then join us at one of our many community projects, help a cause that is important to you and meet some amazing people. You don't need to become a Lion (but you will be missing out on some great fun) but you can make a difference in your community. You might even find that the Santa Monica Lions Club is just what you have been looking for: new friends, a great sense of history and tradition and a wide variety of ways to help others.
To learn about all the projects the Lions have scheduled so far this year, go to our Facebook page or our website, http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/santamonica/. Keep checking back as the list will be updated throughout the year. Do you have a project to share with the Lions? Let us know by contacting us at santamonicalion@gmail.com or 310-623-4499.
