PROJECTS

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• Eye Examinations and Glasses: We provide eye exams and glasses to those in need in our service area, averaging one to three per month, as funding allows. We also collect hundreds of used eyeglasses each year for re-use. We support Smoky Mountain Lions Charities, "The Vision Van Folks", who provide exams and glasses throughout the area.

• Childrens Eye Screenings: Many of our members are well-trained screeners using state-of-the-art screening devices who have screened Head Start students as well as children in day care facilities in cooperation with the Tennessee Lions Eye Center at Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville.

• Eyeglass Recycling: Drop off your old, used eyeglasses so we can make them available to those less fortunate overseas. Twice a year the glasses collected are transported to the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center in Roanoke, Virgina for sorting. As schedules allow, some of our members volunteer at the center to sort and prepare glasses for re-use. We also collect the cases for distribution through RAM.

• Seymour Library: For many years, we have provided financial support for the Seymour Branch of the Sevier County Public Library, to enable the Summer Reading Program for children. Long before Lions Clubs International developed the Reading Action Program, we were working to ensure this program has the resources for maintaining a child's interest in reading during the months out of school. Some of our members serve or have served on the Friends of the Seymour Branch Library Board. We supported the efforts to raise funds for a new facility in Seymour, and in 2020 purchased more than 20 childrens books for the library.

• Remote Area Medical: Remote Area Medical provides health services (including Vision Services) around the world and in underserved areas of this country. Headquartered in Rockwood, many of our members served clinics in the region, and several members frequently travel with RAM to serve where needed. The club also donated Face Shields to RAM during the pandemic of 2020-21.

• Seymour Volunteer Fire Department: These volunteers provide emergency services in the Tri-County area and deserve our support. We have provided equipment and stuffed animals for children affected by emergencies.

• Underprivileged Senior Citizens: We make hand-crafted holiday cards, food and gift baskets, and from time to time provide meals and ice cream socials for approximately 80 seniors of limited resources.

• Diabetes: Besides being one of the leading causes of blindness, diabetes can cause organ and nerve damage, and even death. Juvenile diabetes and raising awareness of all types of diabetes has been a focus of Lions in District 12-N for a long time. Lions Clubs International and local clubs have partnered with international and other agencies to support diabetes awareness and research. One of our members participated in Lions Day at the UN in New York when diabetes was the main focus of the event.

• Pediatric Cancer: Lions, through White Cane Day fundraising, are helping to meet the immediate needs of families whose child faces cancer treatment. We have also provided toys and hands-on crafts during the holiday season for children having to stay at East Tennessee Children's Hospital.

• MEDIC Blook Drives: We  sponsored and volunteered at numerous blood drives, and many of us who are able donate blood and blood products regularly. 

• Adopt-a-Highway: We began collecting litter from the highway right-of-way in the spring of 2007 and continue to do so regularly. We strongly encourage all drivers not to litter and advocate for individual responsibility for helping our environment. 

• On-My-Own: This is a banking and financial planning simulated learning experience for school children, implemented in Sevier County schools through the UT Extension Service. Many members volunteer to work in the schools during these simulations.

• Youth Sports: We  provided financial and other support for the Seymour Hurricanes (baseball) and Seymour High School (football), as well as other youth sports programs over the years.

• Ashley's Dream Playground: The playground, located near Caswell Park in Knoxville, is fully accessible for all children.

• Lions-Quest Skills for Action: We helped organize and participated in training of teachers from across east Tennessee to implement this program. One of our members was a trained Lions-Quest teacher.

• Tennessee Lions Eye Center: The Center, located at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, has an outreach program, KidSight, where Lions screen eyes of young children. We are happy to provide screenings of children in the Seymour and Southeast Knoxville area.

• Lions Volunteer Blind Industries: LVBI provides meaningful employment to the blind and visually impaired, with manufacturing plants in Morristown and Johnson City, TN. Several Lions Club members served on the Board of Directors. Tri-County Lions  contributed to the organization's "Project Paycheck". White Cane Days funds also help support this agency.

• East Tennessee Lions Eye Bank: The Eye Bank provides services for corneal transplants. Several club members served on the Board of Directors. White Cane Days funds help support this agency.

• Leader Dog School: The agency provides training for guide dogs for the blind and receives White Cane Days funding. Several members have visited the Leader Dog School over the years and actively worked to raise funds for the organization.

• Tennessee School for the Blind: The School for the Blind is located in Donelson, near Nashville. It is one of the White Cane Days funding recipients.

• Tennessee School for the Deaf: The School for the Deaf is located in Knoxville. It receives White Cane Day funding.

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• Fundraising Projects

• The Knoxville Tri-County Lions Club raises funds for service projects through several activities, sometimes partnering with other organizations.

• Our major fundraising activities include White Cane Days, an annual event, usually in September or October, that provides support to designated organizations through District 12-N Lions Charities, a 501(c)3 tax exempt foundation. Weather permitting, we collect at the intersection of Boyds Creek Highway and Chapman Highway and as opportunities arise set up collection points at businesses in the area. We appreciate your generouse support, and you can be assured every penny raised goes to better the lives of others.

• We bake and sell pumpkin pies (and the ever-popular pumpkin cheesecake pies) the week of Thanksgiving. To be assured of getting the kinds and quantities of pies you want, please pre-order through one of the club members. Thanks for the cooperation and generous support of area businesses. We usually sell about 100 pies. That's a lot of baking!

• Over the years, we have had rummage sales and bake sales, we have sold refreshments, held chili suppers and pancake dinners, silent auctions, and more. Through these and similar efforts, we can provide eye exams and glasses for hundreds of individuals that are otherwise unable to afford them, as well as support other community improvement efforts that arise.

• Other past efforts included selling cutlery, recycling paper, and a car and motorcycle show.

• The club's project fundraising is maintained in a separate bank account from administrative expenses. All funds solicited from the public go toward the public good.