HUNTLEY — The Huntley Area Lions Club traces its history for more than 20 years as being part of the Huntley community since its days as the Lions of Sun City. The civic group now has about 45 members.
Lions Club current Co-President Mary Meyer explained some of the main projects.
“We award three scholarships to Huntley High School seniors. Also, we collect clothing and household goods for homeless veterans, working with Paths to Hope of McHenry County and the Jesse Brown Center in Cook County. The Paths to Hope gives veterans a bed, table and chair and we help by bringing dishes, cups and saucers to help them get back on their feet. It warms my heart.”
The local Lions Club spread the word out about its community support with a booth at the Huntley Area Chamber of Commerce’s Home, Business and Wellness Expo March 18.
“The Lions Club International is in 208 countries,” Lion Jim Harper said. “It was founded in 1917 by Melvin Jones. Through the work of Helen Keller, the Lions Club became known as “’Knights of the Blind.’”
The Lions Club has many locations where people can drop-off extra eye glasses, hearing aids and recycling items. The group also makes financial assistance available for eye exams. The Lions will participate in the Huntley Green & Clean event April 29 and have an Adopt-a-Highway clean up.
Funding for those efforts comes from tootsie pop days, candy days, fall fest pancake breakfast, Sweetest Day Rose Sale, flower show, and more. Donations are also received by Grafton Township Food Pantry, childhood cancer families, Home of the Sparrow, Shop with a Cop, Lions Clubs of Illinois Foundation and Lions Clubs International and Canine Companions.
“The best thing of our fund-raising is 100 % of it goes to the projects, there is nothing for administration,” Meyer said.
Lions meetings take place the second and fourth Thursday. The second Thursday meeting is at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, 10805 Main Street in Huntley and begins at 7 p.m. The gathering on the fourth Thursday is a program and dinner at 6 p.m. Reservations may be made through Pam Palmer, 815-970-7259.
Lions Make Donation
A new magnified vision device is available for Huntley Area Public Library patrons thanks to a donation from the Huntley Area Lions Club.
The donation of an Optelec Clear View Desktop Magnifier was recently presented to library officials by Harper and Saletta. It was donated to the Lions Club by an anonymous Sun City resident.
The magnified vision device is located near the library’s information desk. It can magnify up to 95 times in HD. It is powered by a single button.
HAPL head of marketing, Doug Cateldo, said the library thanks the civic group. “The library is always looking for ways to assist residents and patrons with visual impairments and low vision,” he said. “In addition to the donation, we continue to evaluate Americans With Disabilities (ADA) needs and the Lions Club has always been there with their support, providing easy-to-use, worthwhile tools to the library for the community.”
