The Lions Blog

During the 2011-2012 fiscal year, Lions reported planting over 15 million trees. Trees are crucial to the livelihood of people, animals and the planet. As the Protecting Our Environment Global Service Action campaign approaches in April, Lions are encouraged to organize environmental service projects such as tree planting.

Here are several tips for planning a tree planting project in your community:

• Evaluate your community’s needs.
• Partner with local organizations that can provide expertise and resources.
• Consult with a local forestry to find out which tree species you should plant in your local environment.
• Tell volunteers to wear protective clothing, such as boots, gloves and hats.
• Invite local media to the activity.

Do you have any tips for organizing a tree planting project?

Today’s featured photo is from the Carthage Sophonisbe Lions Club in Tunisia. These Lions organized a three-day medial caravan, and provided vision screenings and cataract surgeries for 1,700 patients.

Vision screenings can indicate a potential need for further assessment and eye health care, which can help prevent eye problems from becoming even worse. Fight blindness in your community by organizing eye health care services to those in need.

What sight services does your Lions club provide to the community?

This video was created by Lions Club Surabaya Central and Leo Club Surabaya Kharisma in Indonesia to show how they worked together to promote literacy at a local school through the Reading Action Program. From reading story books aloud to teaching students how to use computers, the Lions and Leos encouraged children to embrace reading and technology – two elements crucial to a bright future.

Watch the video above to see the Lions in action.

What kind of educational services for children does your Lions club provide? 

As March is Lions Eye Donor Awareness Month, Lions are encouraged to recognize the importance of eye donations. Here, we’ll go over some Frequently Asked Questions about eye donations and corneal transplants to help you better understand how eye donations work.

Why should eyes be donated?

Corneal transplants depend on eye donations, as there is no substitute for real human tissue. Eye donations are also crucial to research and education.

Who can be an eye donor?

Anyone can be an eye donor, aside from people suffering from highly communicable diseases such as HIV or hepatitis, or suffering from infections. Age, eye color or eyesight do not matter.

What is a corneal transplant?

The cornea is the eye’s outermost layer that covers the front of the eye, and a corneal transplant involves replacing a scarred or diseased cornea with a new one. Only the cornea is transplanted.

How do eye donations help research and education?

Eye donations can help advance research on glaucoma, retinal disease, eye complications of diabetes and more. This research is critical to finding new treatments and cures.

What is an eye bank?

An eye bank is a nonprofit organization that recovers, evaluates, stores and distributes human eye tissue.

How can my Lions club become involved?

Lions Eye Banks are sponsored by a Lions club, district or multiple district, and have an established working relationship with a medical facility.

• Learn more about establishing a new Lions Eye Bank in your community.
• Invite a speaker from the eye bank to a club event to raise awareness.
• Organize a donor awareness event.
• Organize a fundraiser for your local eye bank.

 Does your community have a local eye bank?

Comedian and TV personality Rick Mercer recently featured the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides on his show “Rick Mercer Report.” Mercer learned more about how Lions train dogs to change the lives of people with medical or physical disabilities – from guiding them around town to alerting them when someone is at the door.

Watch the video above to see the segment on “Rick Mercer Report.”

How does your Lions club help people with disabilities?