The Lions Club is a charitable organization that deserves more recognition for the work they do. Who are the Lions? Well according to Jan Sebring, a member of the Abington chapter, the Lions are an international service organization that focuses on fundraising to raise awareness of eye health, and for other disabilities and disasters. Their stated mission is to “empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding.” According to their web page, they are the largest service organization in the world, with over 1.35 million members and 46,000 clubs.

In Abington, the Lions host and sponsors several events. “The ‘Not-So-Scary Woods’ family fun day (a very family and small children friendly Halloween celebration at Island Grove) was my favorite community event to take part in,” said Sebring.

Sebring joined because she was looking for an opportunity to volunteer and had heard good things about the Lions. “I wanted to do something for the community. A few coworkers are Lions, and they told me how enjoyable it was to get involved and help those in need.”

Though Abington is a small community, the impact of their fundraising is quite large. In October 2014, the Lions collected pennies (see picture) and contributed more that $10,000 to the Abington Public Library for the purchase of new tablets and large print books.

The Lions not only benefits the lives of others, but also the lives of those who join. “I think I’ve learned to appreciate more, such as my eyesight, family, and life itself. All of these experiences have made me think more about other people,” said Sebring.
To find out more information on the Lions Club, please visit the local Abington Lions web page, their Facebook page or the International Lions Club page.