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Date: 7/11/2022
MONSON – Established in 1955, the Monson Lions Club is an all-volunteer nonprofit group that is part of the Massachusetts District 33a of the International Lions Club. With 14 members in total, the Monson Lions are always looking for new members.
Curt Jameson, first Vice District Governor of District 33a of the Lions Club explained, “It’s been rough for our club during this post-COVID[-19] time, but it hasn’t stopped our club members from thinking of ways to help.”
At the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, the club had a drive-in concert at the Brimfield Winery and raised a couple thousand dollars. With that money, they were able to buy food for the food banks in Monson, Holland, Wales and Brimfield. “We still have money in that account to help those in need,” Jameson responded. “That was one of the many ways we kept an eye on our neighbors during COVID[-19]. It was a great act of Lionism.”
The Monson Lions Club participates in many projects, including one involving the recycling of eyeglasses by collecting used glasses and sending them to various parts of the world. They’ve helped food banks in local communities, placed a Merlin reading magnifier at the Monson Library and offer a Harold Barclay Scholarship to high school students from Monson.
This year, the club is partnering with the Thomas Day Spring Lodge of Masons to raise money to send a child who has insulin dependent diabetes to a week of camping at one of the Barton Center for Diabetes Education summer camps. In addition, the District 33a has a new Sightmobile housed in Monson that will be used with their new, state-of-the-art screening equipment by all of the Lions throughout their district to check the sight and hearing of students and the public.
Jameson’s father was a longtime Lion through most of his childhood. When his father got sick and was in his last days, Jameson told him he would join the Lions Club “just to put a smile on his face” because the club was dear to his dad’s heart. Jameson joined the Monson Lions Club and has been a member for 20 years. It wasn’t until after the 2011 tornado that Jameson said he learned a whole new aspect of lionism.
“The help that we got from Lions from all over our area, the state and other places was unbelievable,” Jameson explained. “There’s so many people that do so many good things that don’t want any credit for it. They do it on the sidelines. People just wanted to help, and I instantly knew that I wanted to be more involved in the Lions after that.”
On July 16, the club will be at the Christmas in July Craft Fair at Westview Farms Creamery. On Sept. 24, they’re having a Lucky Duck race at the Monson Food Truck Festival. They’ll be putting 500 rubber ducks at Chicopee Brook. The proceeds from this event will go towards childhood cancer and other Lions Club causes.
“The Monson Lions Club is looking for new ways to contribute to the Lions Club international and state causes,” said Jameson. “We have a great caring group of Lions. The way that we all can work together for these amazing causes is the most fulfilling part of me being a Lion in the Monson Lions Club.”
For those interested in joining the Monson Lions Club, visit their website at www.monsonlionsclub.org.