The entire Venice MainStreet family congratulates the Venice Lions Club on their 70th Anniversary. Since 1947 this service club, one of the first in our community, has been providing needed services, mainly
focused on those needy citizens who have issues with their sight.
Venice Lions hold a monthly clinic where those in need receive primary health screening, diabetes blood sugar testing, a complete vision screening, a thorough hearing test plus free glasses, free hearing aids, even free eye surgery if needed. They collect about 24,000 used eyeglasses in our area which are then cleaned, calibrated and sent to underdeveloped countries for distribution to those in need. Hearing aids are also collected, and brand new state-of-the-art hearing aids are fitted to those in need. These free services are provided by this 52-member club.
But wait, there are more reasons Venice MainStreet is excited about the Venice Lions.
Every Spring for years, along with Venice MainStreet, the Venice Lions Club has managed the wildly popular Easter Eggstravaganza at the Gazebo. Some 7,000 eggs are distributed, some with prizes, some with toys, some with candy. Children line up an hour ahead of time for this annual event. Mark your calendars for April 15th for this year’s Eggstravaganza!
Then, in the Fall, ghosts and goblins roam downtown Venice in the annual Halloween Parade, which the Venice Lions have hosted since its inception. This gala parade features hundreds of kids dressed up in their best costumes, accompanied by costumed adults – all to the delight of hundreds of watching parents and grandparents.
These events contribute to the wonderful community atmosphere that characterizes Venice, a great place to live, work, play and shop.
There is another service the Lions provide that makes Venice the wonderful town it is — for 68 years the Venice Lions Club has sponsored a Little League team. Once a year, on Opening Day, club members work the concession stand at the Little League park so that parents of the players can attend the festivities.
Add a regular Waterway Clean-Up, the popular Shark Tooth Scramble at the Shark Tooth Festival, and you have a vital, valuable and respected community service organization.
So, Venice MainStreet salutes Venice Lions Club for 70 years of service – and we look forward to more from this dedicated group of citizens in the future.
For more information on the Venice Lions Club visit www.venicelionsclub.com