Coronavirus and Jekyll Island Lions

With the growing concern about the coronavirus, the Jekyll Island Lions Club meeting scheduled for 17 March was canceled.  In fact, all of the Club’s activities are on hiatus.  A few Lions often volunteer for the semi-monthly Red Cross blood drive and as I write this, the drive is still planned for 26 March.  After that, there may be no more events until after the coronavirus threat passes.

Speaking of passing, this blog will be the last one as I am resigning from the Lions Club.  It is unlikely that any other Jekyll Island Lion will pick it up.

Jekyll Island Lions Club Charity Distributions

Throughout the year, the Jekyll island Lions Club raises money for charity.  In March, the treasurer writes the checks and here is where the money has gone:

The Lighthouse (formerly the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation) – This organization assists residents with inadequate insurance to obtain eyeglasses, eye exams, hearing exams and hearing aids.      Website: lionslighthouse.org

Leader Dogs for the Blind – Leader Dogs trains seeing eye dogs for the blind.  Website: leaderdog.org

Georgia Lions Camp (formerly Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind) – The camp provides a camp experience for the vision impaired. It is located in Waycross, Georgia. Website: glcb.org

Sight for Students – VSP provides eye glasses vouchers for students who are not covered by insurance but need glasses.  This donation goes to the public school nurses who conduct the student eye examinations so that they can provide the vouchers to those who need glasses.  Website: vspglobal.com

Learning Ally – Learning Ally creates and provides audio books for visually impaired students from elementary school through college.  Website: learningally.org

Lions Clubs International Foundation – Their mission is to support the efforts of Lions clubs and partners in serving communities locally and globally, giving hope and impacting lives through humanitarian service projects and grants.  Website: lionsclubs.org

Golden Isles College and Career Academy Scholarship – The Club awards a scholarship to a student who excels at academics and service to the community.  Website: gica.us

Kids Camp – The Club chips in funds to help blind students attend the Georgia Lions Camp.

In addition to the charities above, the Club also gave a donation to the family of a local teenager who was seriously injured in a horrific traffic accident.

Telephone Book Fundraiser

Lions Rick and Pete sold Jekyll Island Telephone Directories at the monthly Jekyll Island Citizens Association meeting on 2 March. Directories are also being sold at Ameris Bank and Jekyll Realty for $8.00. All profits from the sales go to charity.

The regularly scheduled dinner meeting at McCormick’s Grill on 3 March was canceled due to carpet cleaning and installation at the restaurant.  The next meeting will be on 17 March.  Guest speaker Bubba Skeen, District 18N Zone Chair, has agreed to shift his schedule so that he can come to the meeting.

The Brunswick News published a photograph of the Lions Club awarding a $3,000 check to the Brunswick Salvation Army Corps co-commander Nancy Fuller.

 

Flags, Salvation Army, and Telephone Books

In honor of Presidents Day, the Jekyll Island Lions Club flew American flags in the Beach Village and the Historic District. The flags are sponsored by the Jekyll Business Association but maintained by the Club. Thanks to Lions Norman, Mike, Jim, Pete, and Howard for deploying the flags.

Major Nancy Fuller, co-commander of the Brunswick Salvation Army Corps, attended the Jekyll Island Lions Club dinner meeting on 18 February. Lion Mike, Chair of the Red Kettle Collection Drive on Jekyll Island, presented her with a symbolic check for the $3,000 collected over the holidays. Major Fuller spoke about her background and the purpose of the Salvation Army. She also revealed that she was once a Lion! In other activity, Lion Frank received a Gold Centennial Pin from Lions Clubs International for his recruitment of new Lions.

The 2020-2021 Jekyll Island Telephone Directory arrived from the printer and is available at Ameris Bank and Jekyll Realty for $8.00.  This project is one of the Club’s major fundraisers.

Successful Cheese and Pecan Fundraiser

The Jekyll Island Lions Club had a very successful day at the Tidelands 4-H “Art Inspired by Nature” sale and auction on 15 February. The Club sold Guggisberg Baby Swiss Cheese, Mascot chocolate covered pecans and Lions mints. The pecans sold out and cheese sales were strong. Thanks to Lions Rick, Jim and Pete as well as former Lions Cathy and Kay for helping out.

Jekyll Lions Assist Blood Drive

Jekyll Island Lions volunteered at the successful American Red Cross blood drive on 23 January in the Jekyll Presbyterian Community Church Hall. Every reserved time slot was filled and there were many walk-ins. Thanks to Lions Howard, Frank, Rick, Cathy and Pete for volunteering to make the drive a success. Lion Howard is the blood drive coordinator on Jekyll Island and he’s also a donor.

Amenity Kit Assembly for the Homeless

The Jekyll Island Lions Club assembled over 50 amenity kits for the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter at the dinner meeting on 21 January, one of the coldest evenings this winter season. The kits were delivered in the morning on 22 January. Each one included tooth paste, tooth brush, reusable toothpick, chapstick, band aids, gum, comb, pen, antibacterial wipes, Tylenol, gloves, and a bandana. Lion Cathy was the chair for this project.

Red Cross Representative Addresses Jekyll Island Lions

Cynthia Bauer, the regional representative of the American Red Cross, was the guest speaker at the 7 January Jekyll Island Lions Club.  During her talk, she presented Lion Howard with a 25 gallon pin for donating 25 gallons of blood during his lifetime.  Lion Howard is also the Red Cross coordinator for blood drives on Jekyll Island.

Happy New Year!

To ring in the New Year, the Jekyll Island Lions Club flew American flags in the Beach Village and the Historic District.  Lions Jim, Norman, Mike and Pete deployed the flags at 8:00 am and took them in at 5:00 pm.  The flags were sponsored by the Jekyll Business Association.

Newspaper Recognition

Lion Howard wrote and submitted an article about the Jekyll Island Lions Club‘s activities to Jekyll’s Golden Islander.  The newspaper is published twice a month and covers news about Jekyll Island.  Lion Howard’s article was included in the 19 December edition; two photographs appeared with the story.