EAST LONGMEADOW –  After years of service to the community, the East Longmeadow Lions Club is celebrating its 75th year of service.  

“Lions are known as “knights of the blind,” focusing on programs and services for the blind and visually impaired — and aim to eliminate preventable and reversible blindness,” lionsclubs.org reads.

In addition to their work with individuals with sight loss, the Lions work to support global health programs, fight hunger and support those in less-fortunate countries.

On February 22, 1943 the Indian Orchard Lions chartered the East Longmeadow Lions Club.  Once the group was chartered they began to raise funds to support Lions Eye Research while simultaneously funding community events that would benefit the town, the state and the country. A few of the original members of the East Longmeadow Lions include Sandford Nooney, Archie T. Rintouli, Llobd C. Clark and Sherwood W. Cronk, along with 87 other like-minded individuals.  In fact, Cronk’s daughter Sandy Davis is a current member of the Lion’s Club.

“I really enjoyed going to the father/daughter banquets. My husband Jim Davis was a 50-plus year member,” Davis said.

In the 1940’s, the Lions Club would put together scrap metal drives, paper drives and numerous other events to support the war efforts.  

Once the organization entered the 1950’s, the Lions had grown so much so that at their first “ambulance drive” where they raised money to purchase a new, full-equipped ambulance, they raised $8,500 in five months.  The group then gifted the ambulance to the town, and residents were able to receive free transportation to hospitals and doctors appointments.  Also during the 1950’s, the group created their fundraising project, “The Lions Club Annual Fair,” which eventually became the 4th of July Carnival that still takes place annually.  In addition to the carnival, the Lions also started the town’s tree lighting ceremony.

In the 1970’s the East Longmeadow Lions Club reached its peak membership, hosting over 230 members.

At the turn of the 1980’s the Lions Club began to face the problem that they still face today: aging and declining membership. Still, they were able to continue to provide numerous services for the area including the first Jaws of Life for the Fire Department, start-up funds for the Pioneer Valley Radio Reading Program, which is now known as Valley Eye Radio, and working at parking booths and in the Vermont building at the Big E.

In the late 1980’s Scott Grabowski joined the East Longmeadow Lions club.  Over the course of his membership he’s served as a past President, past Region Chairman, and is currently Club Secretary and Zone Chairman of three local Lions Clubs.

“My Dad was a longtime Lion, and I grew up as a Lion’s kid. The club sponsorerd my baseball team when i was a teenager, and bought us beautiful wool jackets with leather sleeves when we won the league championship one year,” Grabowski said. “I was brought up in the thinking mode of service to others, so it was only natural that I would join this Lions Club.

Lion and Board of Directors member Lloyd Oakes joined the Club in 1984, stating that he wanted to be involved with an organization that served community needs.  Over the course of his membership he’s enjoyed numerous golf tournaments, wine and beer dinners and outreach fundraisers.

In the 1990’s Oakes started the Club’s involvement in their Blood Donation Program.  While the Club does not have a finite number, they have accounted for approximately 1,200 units of blood to help those in need.  In fact, two Lions have donated over 100 times since the programs inception.

Currently in their 75th year of operation the East Longmeadow Lions Club plans to host their 29th annual Memorial Golf Tournament, a fall beer dinner, speed pitch at the carnival, a Valentine wine and chocolate dinner, Journey for Sight canisters and will place recycling boxes around the town and the open pantry at the Senior Center.

The Club is presently fundraising to refurbish the town’s manger and restring the lights on the Christmas tree at the rotary.  The lights will be replaced with LED C-9’s, which are found to be brighter, and energy conserving.  In addition to the lights, a three-foot illuminated star will be put on the top of the tree.

“This year, for the first time, the East Longmeadow Lions has also set aside an allotment of funds to Dr. Basile and Kens EyeWear to help with cost of eye care and or glasses for those who through hardship cannot afford them,” a release states.  The Lions noted that the school system and the Senior Center will have further information on this funding, and that all cases will be handled on a first-come first-serve basis.

“We welcome all to come and join the Lions Club of East Longmeadow,” Oakes said.  He noted that in this day and age, family commitments tend to put a burden on peoples time for involvement in organizations.

With only 40 members, the East Longmeadow Lions are in search of men and women who are dedicated to making improvements in town and across the globe.  

“It has been a challenge to attract new members. Partly, I think, because there are so many directions now that pull at people’s available time,” Grabowski said.    

To learn more about the organization, call King Lion Paul Cunningham at 636-6568, Lion Lloyd Oakes at 525-2378 or Lion Scott Gabowski at 525-2500.