Are you interested in helping others? Meeting new people? As a Lion, you will use your time and talents to make an impact locally and around the world. Through experiences as a Lion, you will acquire new skills, meet challenges head on, cultivate lasting friendships and discover more about yourself.

Lions take on roles as organizers, advocates, fund-raisers, and hands-on volunteers. We strive to make a difference in our local community, as well as worldwide.

Some of the community services the Big Bear Lions Club provides include:

- Annual High School Speech Contest.

- Coffee and cocoa giveaway at Halloween and Christmas in the Village and at the annual Big Bear MS Walk.

- Co-sponsor, with the Moose Lodge in Fawnskin, the annual Big Bear MS Walk and serve jointly on the planning committee.

-  Eye screenings at Elementary, Middle and High Schools.

- Fire Service Day open houses at three locations:  Lions provide and serve a pancake breakfast at the Big Bear City Fire Station; provide and serve a hot dog lunch at the Big Bear Lake Fire Station; and provide and serve ice cream sundaes at the San Bernardino County Fire Station in Fawnskin.

- Health Fair eye screenings.

- Healthy Start Family Fun Night.

- Sight-saving related needs, including the purchase of glasses and white canes.

- All you can eat pizza fundraiser for the City of Hope.

A few of our recipients include (with 2008-2009 chair persons)
- Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation; contact Scott Vandrick, 1-800-242-BURN
- Big Bear Valley Youth Sports
- Boy Scout, Cub Scout and Venture Troops
- Campaign SightFirst II; District Coordinator is Bob Niez, 909-585-7121
- Canine Companions for Independence; Chair is James Batchelor, 951-894-5567
- City of Hope; Chair is Jeanne Vaughan, 909-585-8755
- Diabetes Awareness; Chair is Gil Anderson, 951-242-0881
- Doves, Big Bear
- Guide Dogs of the Desert; Chair is Pati Van Dusen, 909-446-0687
- Lions Hearing Clinic and Research Center
- Loma Linda Eye Foundation; Chair is Dwight Winans, 951-927-4505
- Lions Camp at Teresita Pines; Chair is Carl Decker, 909-790-6913

DONATE your used eye glasses. Give them to any Lions Club member or drop them off at Geiger Supply on Garstin Road just across from the hospital. They will be recycled and processed for donating to those who cannot afford glasses.

Photo credit: Patty King