Community
Service Projects
CHRISTMAS TOYS FOR SANTA'S HELPERS
Since 1998, the Club has made wood toys (300-500 toys) for needy
kids. The toys are distributed through the local Santa's Helpers
Project. Lion Bob Bohannon (deceased) initially started the toys
project in 1998. Lion Gary Henry picked the project up a couple
of years ago when Lion Bob Bohannon moved.
This year, instead of the wood toys, the Club opted to donate
$250 to Santa's Helpers and help them fill the back packs that
were given to the kids.
COLLECTION OF USED EYE GLASSES FOR RECYCLING
Since 1969, the Club has collected used eye glasses via
collection boxes placed at various locations in Ruidoso and
Ruidoso Downs. Every two months, the boxes are emptied and
glasses collected and boxed up. The boxes of glasses are handed
off at MD40 Council Meetings to PDG Ernest London who transports
all of the collected glasses for NM to the recycling plant in
Texas. The Club collects 1000-1500 pairs of used eye glasses
annually. Lion Chris McCool is currently Chairperson of the
committee responsible for collecting the glasses.
VISION
ASSISTANCE
A signature project in which the
Club sponsors needy folks for an eye exam and glasses. The
Vision Assistance Committee reviews individual requests to
determine the person is eligible for our support. Once approved,
an appointment is made for the person with a local
ophthalmologist. In some cases, the ophthalmologist (as well as
the provider of the glasses) will charge the Club at a reduced
rate. Lions Bill Allen (C), Valari Chavez, Gary Henry, Rod Smith, Curt Dimberg,
and Beth Jones are members of the
Vision Assistance Committee.
PROJECT KIDSIGHT
Eight to ten percent of young children will have a vision
problem. Amblyopia or "lazy eye" is the most common cause of
visual impairment in childhood. Amblyopia will lead to loss of
sharp vision in one eye unless it is detected and treated in the
preschool years. Amblyopia can be caused by any condition that
affects normal vision development or usethe eyes such as:
strabismus (esotropia where eyes turn in or exotropia where eyes
turn out); myopia or nearsightedness; hyperopia or
farsightedness; cataracts; astigmatism; anisometropia
(refractive errors differ in each eye); anisocoria (pupil sizes
are different; coloboma (a gap in part of the structures of the
eye); and ptosis (drooping eye lid). To address this problem,
the Club conducts an annual photo eye screening of preschool children in
Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Lions Bill
Allen and Bryson McCool are co-Chairpersons of the Photo Eye
Screening Committee. The Club is also providing training and
assistance to other NM Clubs to get NM Lions Operation KidSight
going in their communities.
NEW HORIZONS DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER SUPPORT
The New Horizons
Developmental Center in Carrizozo is a care center for mentally
disabled folks. It has a maximum capacity of 19 residents who
receive a small monthly stipend to cover their personal needs.
The Club adopted the Center several years ago and provides an
annual
Christmas Party where the residents receive gifts purchased by
the Club. Lion Gary Henry is the Chairperson of the New Horizons
Developmental Center Committee.
LINCOLN COUNTY HEAD START PROGRAM SUPPORT
Head Start is a comprehensive child development program designed
to foster healthy development in low-income children. Program
grantees and delegate agencies deliver a range of services,
responsive and appropriate to each child's and each family's
heritage and experience, that encompass all aspects of a child's
development and learning. The overall goal is to increase
the school readiness of young children in low-income families.
Seventy-five percent of the Lincoln County Head Start Program
budget is federally funded. The other 25% must come from the
community donations and volunteers. The Club annually donates
$1000 to the Lincoln Head Start Program which is used for
emergency assistance to provide warm clothing, shoes, blankets,
heaters, dental services, etc. where needed.
"STRANGER" DANGER
"Stranger" Danger is program to help children and their parents
deal with the possibility that a child could be abducted by a
predator. The program urges parents to know where their children
are at all times, learn and use a family code word to
communicate if needed, and to inform their
children that they should run, scream, and/or draw attention
if uncomfortably approached. The Club also fingerprints children.
The fingerprints are placed on a card which, is provided to the parents to use as
identification in case their child is
abducted. Lion Gary Henry is Chai of this
project.
RELAY FOR
LIFE
Relay For Life is an American
Cancer Society fundraiser activity conducted in communities
across America. Collected funds are used for such things as
research, training of Cope volunteers, free lodging at Hope
Lodges, and Reach to Recovery support for breast cancer
patients. The Club has supported this project for the last five
years with an annual donation of $1000.
Lions Don and Betty Blair and Chuck Maly have chaired this project
in the past.
CHRISTIAN SERVICES SUPPORT
Founded
in 1987 and housed at the Gateway Church of Christ,
Christian Services maintains a clothing room and food
bank stocked by donations from the community. Around 50
to 100 local individuals are helped weekly. Also housed
in the Gateway building, the Gateway Disaster Relief
Team responds to 10-20 incidents each year. They provide
on-scene support to emergency services personnel and the
individuals affected by the emergency as well as open
the Gateway building as an emergency shelter. They also
provide financial support to families and victims of
disasters. The Club provides an annual donation of $1000 to
Christian Services. Lion Bill Wooley is the Chairperson of this
project.
LINCOLN
COUNTY FOOD BANK
The
Lincoln Food Bank provides a standard, healthy box of food to
those who need it. The folks at the Lincoln County Food Bank
follow the guidelines and the experience of Food Banks
throughout our nation. A family in need is presented with a big
box, already made up by staff, containing the basic foods
recommended by hunger relief organizations throughout the
nation. Twenty-two items are in that box which weighs in access
of 40 pounds. Hot dogs, fresh milk and eggs are added by the
Food Bank worker. Clients are invited to select from flour,
sugar, lard, and desserts (from Lawrence Bros Bakery) and an
array of cans and boxes. The Club provides an annual donation of
$500 to the Lincoln County Food Bank. In the past, Lion Jim
Radcliffe has chaired this project.
PEACE
POSTER CONTEST
The Lions
International Annual Peace Poster Contest is an opportunity for
hundreds of thousands of 11 to 13 year olds from around the
world to artistically create their hope for peace. Through an
art medium, using only pictures and no words, children render
their vision for world peace. Lions Clubs can sponsor the
program in their community for children in local schools or
organized, sponsored youth groups. Students, ages 11, 12 or 13
by November 15 are eligible to participate. Students select a
medium as outlined in the contest rules to draw, paint or sketch
their interpretation of the contest’s theme. Each poster is
judged on originality, artistic merit and expression of the
theme. Posters advance through several judging levels: local,
district, multiple district and international. At the
international level, a group of judges from the art, peace,
youth, education and media communities select one grand prize
winner and 23 merit award winners. The Club annually sponsors a
Peace Poster Contest with at least three schools in Lincoln
County and Mescalero participating. Lion Tom Pugh is chairperson
of this project.
HIGHWAY
CLEAN UP
The Club has been assigned a mile
of highway on the airport road that we are responsible to keep
the trash picked up. The Club sets up 3-4 work days annually to
pick up trash. This project has proven to be a good means of
making the Club visible to the community. Lion Tom Pugh is the
Chairperson of the Club's Highway Clean up Project.
ASPENFEST PARADE BAND FEED
Each year in
October to celebrate fall, the Aspenfest occurs in Ruidoso which
includes a large parade. Numerous high school bands from all
over march in the parade. It has been a long standing tradition
of the Club to provide a lunch for the members of the bands
after the parade is over. Lion Leo Mitchell is Chairperson of
this project.
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