The Fairfax Lions worked hard August and September, making several improvements to our cabin at the Northern Virginia Lions Youth Camp in Boyce, Virginia.  Improvements 1) installed seven, 48×48 inch windows, (2) installed ventilation fan, 3) restored metal roof, 4) removed old stone pavers and stove pipe since new electric baseboard heating was added, (5) installed decorative skirt around cabin perimeter, and 6) initiated staining of exterior.  

Led by Lion Ted Kuriata, several Lions performed these tasks (Scott Dulaney, Mike Greeley, Rob Higginbotham, Mike Schutz, Marty Lockard).  Less than half the building is left to stain, and the plan is to finish before cold weather sets in.

We seek volunteers for (staining exterior) on either:  23-24 September 2016, or 30 September – 1 October 2016.  If any perosns would like to help, please contact Lion Ted Kuriata at:  tkuriata@msn.com

Youth Camp Cabin

Maintenance

Lions Sight and Hearing Screening Van

Fairfax Lions participated in the Classic Car Show in downtown Fairfax City on September 5, Labor Day, to provide sight and hearing screening for our community.  Our screening station is a mobile van, one of several owned and operated by Lions in Virginia.

Our services are provided to the community at no charge.  It is through YOUR support of our fund raisers that the Lions are able to serve you.

We screened 20 members of our community and referred several for follow-up exams.  We are pleased many of our neighbors found this service helpful.  Screeners included:  Marty Lockard, Mike Greely, Jeff Root, Brian Laccone, and Gordon Tillery.

We collected many charitable donations from our generous community neighbors. Thank you for helping the Fairfax Lions give back to the community!

And it was a great Car Show….

A ceremony hosted by the Fairfax City Inter-Service Club Council (ISCC), on August 3, 2016, recognized volunteers-of-the-year from 20 service clubs in the Fairfax area.  Among them was Elden Wright, the Fairfax Lions Club “Lion of the Year.”

Lion Elden Wright, Lion of the Year

(L) Lion Elden Wright, (C) Fairfax Lions Past-President Gordon Tillery, (R) ISCC President Larry Larson

Elden Wright has volunteered in many capacities – always setting the example for exemplary community service.  Elden’s leadership, skillful planning, and constant dedication have assured successful service by the Fairfax Lions Club in our community.  This past year, Elden Wright has planned and led multiple Lions Club service projects – among them 2 blood drives, and the Club’s eyeglass dispensing for needy persons.  Additionally, Elden is the President and Chief Executive of the Virginia LIONS EYE INSTITUTE FOUNDATION, which is co-sponsored by Lions and the Inova Health System.  Elden coordinates free eye care for needy patients with the Inova Cares Lions Eye Clinic. This includes laser, medical and surgical care for all types of conditions of the eye.  Elden oversees funding of: continuing medical education for nurses and para-professionals, equipment purchases for local not-for-profit hospitals, scholarship awards to sight handicapped individuals, clinical research, and rehabilitation of visually impaired individuals through low vision evaluations and use of low vision aids. Elden has also raised significant charity funds to enable Fairfax Lions to complete their mission of serving needy people in our community.  His actions are fully consistent with the Lions’ motto of “We Serve.”

As a special project, 5 Lions and 3 Lions family members worked on Saturday May 28, to help move the Lamb Center.

Fairfax Lion Marty Lockard leads Lion service project

Overall, about 50 total volunteers and Lamb Center staff spent Saturday afternoon moving the Lamb Center from leased space to the permanent new home on Campbell Drive.   The 4 hour job was made easier by having many volunteers help, and the loan of a large cargo truck from Central Union Mission in Washington, DC.

The Lamb Center reopens May 31st, Tuesday morning, at 8:00AM, at the new location at 3160 Campbell Drive, Fairfax, VA.  The community is invited to the Grand Opening Open House on Sunday, June 26th from 1:00 – 5:00pm.

At the Lions dinner meeting on May 17, 2016, Mrs. Kelly Johnson talked about the Lamb Center operations: about 31,000 guest visits each year – about 106 guests per day.  And, guest numbers are increasing.  It opened in 1992 to serve the poor and homeless in central Fairfax.  With the support of about 100 local churches, It is a daytime drop-in shelter offering hot meals, showers, haircuts, laundry, and a variety of counselors.  It is a place where someone knows each guest’s name and cares about them. The Center has raised over $4 million to purchase their new facility which offers much more space for guest care, training, and storage.  The visiting nurse will even have an office.  Kelly said Fairfax Lions might consider 3 things to help: support with prayer, volunteer – June 26 open house is a great start point, and consider attending the October fund raising dinner.

Fairfax Lions donated charity funds this year to the Center, and it will likely be a budget decision for next year.

Mrs Kelly Johnson speaks to Fairfax Lions

Tracy Sofoenko, 1st VP of the National Federation of the Blind of VA spoke to Fairfax Lions on May 3rd. The topic was the recent BELL (Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning) camp for blind children. Fairfax Lions Club supports this program.  At camp, the children find role models, learn to use technology and tools for independent living and life success, and build resume skills.  We saw a video on the camp – it was great that our club was acknowledged in the credits for our donation supporting the camp.

Fairfax Lions Club thanks Tracy Sofoenko for his presentation