Madison Area Family Lions Club thanks community, plans projects

MADISON – Members of Madison Area Family Lions Club have fulfilled two tenants of ‘Lionism,’ or beliefs of the service group, with the success of one recent fundraiser.

The Lions Club completed a fundraiser to sell Boston Butts and raised $800 for vision projects. They also bought and donated cuts of smoked meat to Downtown Rescue Mission in Huntsville, Lions member Luke Hunter said.

“The Boston butts were prepared by Jells 4 Ever BBQ,” Hunter said. “The funds raised will be used to fund vision screenings in our local schools, assist the less fortunate in our community with eye exams and glasses and fulfill other needs as they arise in the Madison area.”

The Lions’ sale of 80 Boston butts generated enough funds to provide eye exams and prescription glasses to 16 youth. The local “Vision for Learning” program helps Madison City Schools students.

“Thanks to the charity of many who chose to purchase and donate Boston butts, the Lions also provided 60 pounds of meat to the Downtown Rescue Mission to help them feed the homeless in our area,” Hunter said.

Lions President John Emich said the fundraiser helped the club support two of Lions Club International focus areas — vision and hunger. “It warms your heart when you see your efforts helping those in the community. This is what it means to be a Lion,” Emich said.

“The excitement in the eyes of the gentlemen who received the meat for the Downtown Rescue Mission was infectious,” Hunter said. “They knew that those they serve would be in for a treat at dinner that night. This is what service to the community is all about.”

Lions Clubs International is the largest service club organization in the world, Hunter said. The 1,420,000 members in more than 47,000 clubs are serving in 200-plus countries and geographic areas.

“Since 1917, Lions have strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects, and we are extending our service impact through the generous support of our Lions Club International Foundation,” Hunter said. “We are focused on serving sight, hunger, the environment, childhood cancer and our new global cause, diabetes, to help address some of the biggest challenges facing humanity.”

Madison Area Family Lions Club meets monthly on second Tuesdays at Old Black Bear in downtown Madison. Dinner starts at 6 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7 p.m. For more information about the club and its efforts to make a difference in the community, email madisonlionsclub@gmail.com.