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| Every year the DeAnza Lions Club contributes thousands of dollars and hundreds of people hours to the following charities and organizations: click the links above to learn more about our programs. Lions all over the world are known for their service to persons who are blind and visually impaired and as you can see from the list above, the DeAnza Lions are doing their share to help this cause. This dedicated service began in 1925. During a Lions international convention, Helen Keller, a woman who had been blind and deaf since childhood, challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in this crusade against darkness." Lions accepted Keller's challenge. Today, Lions clubs around the world are involved in many sight-related areas in order to help prevent blindness. A.J.
Robinson is a mobile screening van, equipped with
modern instruments which are used for measuring blood sugar levels,
hearing, blood pressure, weight/BMI and eye sight. The mobile unit
is deployed at festivals and fairs all over the Bay Area. Screening
is free of charge for all visitors. DeAnza Lions Club contributes
funds to maintain the van. When in use, Lions volunteer by helping
the doctors on duty with the screening, and by assisting visitors
with filling in the required paperwork. Books Aloud
is a non-profit organization which has been in existence
for 30 years (More
info). It records
books onto audio format for those unable to read
by conventional means. Books Aloud moved to a brand new library in
downtown San Jose, California. in August 2003. More info. This Program
is part of the Lions International Lions for Sight initiative. It
is also a local establishment (operating
out of
San Jose) that provides a much needed service. The DeAnza Lions Club
provide monetary contributions that helps support this Organization. Camp
Costanoan is
located on Stevens Creek Canyon Road, south of the Stevens
Creek dam. It is operated as part of VIA
Rehabilitation Services,
for the purpose of providing a camping experience for handicapped
and disabled children in the summer time. During other times of the
year, it is used by the school districts as part of their nature
programs and on weekends it gets some use as a respite program [retreat]
for parents and care givers of handicapped and disabled adults thought
the year The DeAnza Lions maintain an area know as the fire circle
and barbecue area. In addition we often contribute
to the camper sponsorships for the season. Canine Companions for Independence is a national nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of children and adults with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships (More Info). Every year The DeAnza Lions purchase lifetime memberships to Canine Companions in the name of one or more of our members. This helps fund the training of these dogs for use of people with disabilities. City of Hope is an innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution. they are dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, guided by a compassionate patient-centered philosophy, and supported by a national foundation of humanitarian philanthropy(More Info). Weekly a "City of Hope" donation box is passed around at both AM and PM meetings. All funds that we raise are doubled due to a matching donation from Lions International. As a result we are able to raise money for this cause. Diabetes Society provides research for diabetes as well as provides care services for those inflicted with diabetes.We provide financial support for this worthwhile organization. Daffodil Days is a fundraiser held by the American Cancer Society. They sell daffodils, one of the first flowers of spring and a symbol of hope, in order to raise money for their lifesaving research, prevention, early detection, and support programs. The DeAnza lions role in this important event has been increasing yearly. Our members help the local effort in every aspect of the event including unloading the trailers, building the arrangements and delivering assembled orders. We also provide lunch for many of the volunteers during the day of assembly. Click here to learn more about the American Cancer Society and Daffodil Days. Ear of the Lion is a foundation operated and funded by the Lions Clubs. It provides hearing aids, which are funded by mandatory monetary contributions from all local lions clubs, to poor people with hearing problems. The DeAnza Lions also contribute a fixed per capita amount each year to this program. Eyeglass recycling: The DeAnza Lions collect used eyeglasses for donation to Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers that are located throughout the world. The used eyeglasses are cleaned, repaired and classified by prescription. The eyeglasses are then distributed to those in need by Lion volunteers and other organizations hosting optical missions around the world. DeAnza Lions collect about 5,000 pairs of glasses each year. THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS WILL ACCEPT YOUR USED EYE GLASSES ON BEHALF OF THE DEANZA LIONS.
Flags: We send a volunteer into third grade classes throughout the south bay to talk about the american flag, its history, how to treat it and what it symbolizes. The students in the program get to take home a miniature flag or their own. Habitat for Humanity: We are very closely associated with Silicon Valley Habitat for Humanity (our local affiliate). We help organize, advertise and staff a garage sale that Habitat for Humanity runs about every 6 weeks in order to sell extra merchandise that they do not need. These garage sales help raise over $4,000 every time they are held, money that goes directly towards building homes in the south Bay Area. We also send working crews to local projects building houses in partnership with people in need of decent, affordable housing. In addition, from time to time we will put together a "lunch crew", making delicious, hardy meals for contractors and volunteer workers at build sites. Second Harvest
Food Drive is the biggest food distribution in US
(85 million pounds of food in 2005). Click
here for more information about Second Harvest
Food
Bank.
Once a year around thanksgiving The DeAnza Lions Collect food and
assemble baskets to give to local families in need.
It is intended
to
give families
a thanksgiving
dinner whom may
otherwise not be able to afford one. Blind
Center of Santa Clara has provided
support to individuals facing the uncertainties, fears, and challenges
related to uncorrectable vision loss for more than 50 years (More
info). Our Donations and volunteer support provide brail classes,
cooking classes, pottery classes to help local blind people. Social Advocates
for Youth is a program that support
at-risk kids, domestic violence, gangs, runaways. Speaker Student Contest Every year we financially support high school students who enter in the Student Speaker Contest. This support can include transportation as well as room and board for contestants that make it to the later rounds and must travel. In addition we provide judges and food for the local events. Sight First fights the major causes of blindness: cataract, river blindness, trachoma, and, especially in developed nations like the United States, diabetic eye disease and glaucoma. Lions initially generously funded Sight First with $144 million. The DeAnza Lions donate money and work with our regional Sight First technical advisor in developing Sight First grant applications and project proposals. Site First is a program that is supported and financially endorsed by Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF). Click here to see a PSA from Lion Jimmy Carter about LCIF and their commitment to Sight First. Student Youth Leadership: The
DeAnza Lions have sponsored a Leo Club at Fremont High School. Click
here on more info about the Leo Clubs. This provides
the opportunity for high school students to engage in community service,
civic conscience-ness, leadership and
volunteerism. It also nurtures young Lions that many someday become members
of Lions Club International. Ronald McDonald House
We donate our time and our pull tabs
to be recycled for money that goes towards disadvantaged kids that
are associated with the Ronald McDonald
House of Sacramento. The pull tabs from beverage cams are 100%
aluminum, no dyes or other elements to separate. this makes them
easier to recycling, and give them a higher value than entire
can.
In addition to (and perhaps equal to) the altruism that goes on in the Deanza Lions Club, there is an fair amount of socializing. This includes various dinners and social events that take place throughout the year in order to plan an to celebrate our success. Some of these include the budget meeting dinner, Installation party, pre golf dinner and post golf party, and many more. By our nature we are a fun loving and jovial group that enjoys our social times!!! |
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