Residents work to revive Lions Club

Nelson County residents began work last week to revive the Lions Club, a volunteer service organization that has been dormant for the past three years in the county after more than a decade of activity.

Members from the Lions Clubs in Lexington and Charlottesville were present at an informational meeting last Tuesday at the Nelson Center in Lovingston to explain to interested residents what the organization was about, what they would need to start their own club and who is eligible to join.

Fewer than 10 people attended the meeting, which was not enough to charter a Lions Club. Another informational meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Nelson Center.

Dean Knick, a member of the Lexington Lions Club, said requests of that club and others for services that Lions Clubs provide, such as vision and hearing screening, have come from Nelson County.

“I said the answer to this is to try and get the club going again,” Knick said. “Nelson had their own Lions Club. Nelson had a very strong Lions Club for years and for some reason, it folded up.”

The Lions Club provided free vision and hearing screenings in Nellysford on Sept. 12.

Frances Mitchell, who works for the Jefferson Area Board for Aging at the Nelson Center, said she got involved with trying to bring the club back to Nelson County because she saw the needs of county senior citizens that could be filled by the services the Lions Club provides.

“The seniors here are on a fixed income and not only do they have to pay rent, they have to pay their electric and their heating bills, but they also have a need for glasses and hearing aids and sometimes do without those kinds of things because they can’t afford them.”

“I just sent a hail Mary out onto the Internet asking for help,” Mitchell said. “We need the Lions Club in Nelson.”

Knick said the Lions Club is “not planning on quitting” in Nelson County.

“Our reason for existing is to serve others who need our help,” he said.

Anyone can join the Lions Club, which is a worldwide organization, as long as they are at least middle-school age, Knick said. To start a club, at least 20 members are required and dues are $30 per year.

For more information, call Frances Mitchell at (434) 263-5773 or Dean Knick at (540) 463-5570.