By Van Mitchell, staff writer
Lions Club’s in Oklahoma and across the nation are struggling to grow due to an aging membership and not enough new members.
But those challenges haven’t stopped the Edmond Lions Club from carrying out its mission of helping others.
The Edmond Lions Club is a Community Service Organization, and a chartered member of the Oklahoma State Lions Club District 3SW and Lions Club International.
Carl Breazeale, a long-time Edmond Lions Club member, said Lions Club has been in Edmond for 64 years, and at one point there were two Clubs in town, but dwindling membership caused one to be phased out.
We’ve got about 12 or 14 members. We’ve lost a lot due to aging out and passing away. And we’re not nearly as strong as we were,” he said. “I’m 80 years old, and we’ve got other members that are quite a bit older than I am. I think our oldest member is 99. We’re getting up there, but we’d also have a few younger members that are helping us, and starting to do some things, helping to be a team effort. We are always looking for new members.”
Edmond Lions Club meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the VFW Post, located at 425 South Fretz in Edmond.
Breazeale said Edmond Lions Club supports a variety of projects that benefit the Edmond community.
“We do an annual youth fishing derby at Lake Arcadia. We sponsor that for the City of Edmond,” he said. “We perform children’s eye site testing in our community when requested by local daycare centers. Our club donates food to local food banks and makes cash donations when we can.”
“Our club provides funding for prescription eyeglasses to local under-privileged Edmond children through the Edmond Hope Center,” Breazeale said. “We also collect used eyeglasses and lenses from Edmond area optometrists and vision care businesses and turn them into our State Lions Club office. In turn, Lions Club International distributes these glasses internationally to those in need of them. Last year we turned in over 4,000 pairs of eyeglasses and lenses to help those in need internationally.”
Breazeale said Edmond Lions Club is also involved with the Lions Club’s state project, the Lions Meadows of Hope in Stillwater.
LMOH is a certified foster care agency, who place foster children in certified homes which are in Payne County and surrounding counties. There are currently 77 kids and 49 homes involved with LMOH.
Elizabeth Beck, Director of Development for LMOH said Lions Clubs across Oklahoma including Edmond, have been instrumental in supporting Lions Meadows of Hope for generations.
“Through annual club donations, special fundraising efforts, memorial and legacy gifts, and individual giving, Lions continue to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families experiencing foster care,” she said.
Beck said one of the most meaningful traditions each year is the Parade of Checks held during their Christmas celebration.
She said Lions Clubs from across the state gather to present their year-end gifts, demonstrating their collective commitment to supporting children and families served by Lions Meadows of Hope.
“These donations help provide critical resources such as foster family support, training, emergency assistance, extracurricular stipends and opportunities that help children thrive. Several clubs have scholarships available that assist in furthering their education,” she said. “Together, these financial investments continue to support the mission at Lions Meadows of Hope: we unite brothers and sisters in foster care, surround them with a community of hope, and help them grow into caring and productive adults. The generosity of the Oklahoma Lions is more than financial support, it is a tangible expression of compassion, service, and hope that changes lives every day.”
Breazeale said the Edmond Lions Club strives to achieve their mission of service through a commitment to working together for a better future.
We just do the best we can to try to stay together and do it. It’s just hard work,” Breazeale said. “And we’ve got people that care about what we do and they can continue to make it happen. You must have the desire to serve in our community and try to do what you can when you can.”
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For more information about Edmond Lions Club call Breazeale at (405)-590-7289 and for information on LMOH contact Beck at [email protected] or visit the LMOH website at www.lionsmoh.org.
