The Evans Township Lions Club, has been helping Evans and Brant residents since its founding in 1946. The organization may be the best-kept secret in town, because it can’t advertise or publicize most of the good things its members do. Eyeglasses or hearing aids for the needy are confidential services.

Screening Eyes Early (S.E.E.), sight conservation, and financial assistance to the village hanging basket program, the Angola gazebo concert series, Christmas in the village, and the Lions Club “Sunshine Day at Cradle Beach” are some of the other community services in which the Lions are involved.

A public event was the fourth annual all-you-can eat “Ribfest” held at the Most Precious Blood Church Hall, Angola. This fundraising event, with proceeds dedicated to help fund the Lions Clubs “Community Service Scholarships,” was a success because of the attendance and support of the residents of the town of Evans and surrounding communities.

Another community service event for the Lions Club was the 65th Annual Children’s Halloween Costume Parade in Angola held this year on Saturday Oct. 25 from the village Fire Hall. This is the oldest, annually staged, Children’s Halloween Costume Parade in Western New York.

Another event where “Lions” (the area’s friends and neighbors) were visible is “White Cane Day” (Election Day). A collection of donations and used eyeglasses help sight conservation efforts. Used eyeglasses are recyclable through Lions Clubs International, the largest service organization in the world.

Lions help out both financially and physically with the Thanksgiving day meal, overseen by the members of the Lake Shore Association of Christian Churches, at the Most Precious Blood Church Hall. This year it was held on Thanksgiving Day. The meal is free each year and all are welcome in the true spirit of Thanksgiving.

For an upcoming project, local Lions will be similarly involved in the Christmas Day Dinner, also at Most Precious Blood church hall. This meal, at 1 p.m. Christmas Day, is also offered by the members of the Lake Shore Association of Christian Churches. It is free and all are welcome in the holiday spirit.

This is not a complete list of the Evans Township Lions Club community service activities, but it is a good start. When attending activities in the area, look for the people in the gold vests, or the hats with the Lions International logo on them, or look for the blue and gold lapel pins with the letter “L”. These are the members of your community Lions Club, living up to their motto, “We Serve.”

Members encourage anyone curious about the club to learn more about what Lions do. The organization has a website: e-clubhouse.org/sites/evans-township/ It also has a Facebook page that can be “liked.” Contact Lion John Haak for more information about the organization at 549-5223.