Goodrich – Being a Lions Club member for 30 years and helping the blind and deaf has been a lifelong commitment for village resident, Glenn Thompson.
He said it was when Thompson, now 81, became the superintendent for the New York State School for the Blind in Batavia, NY that he learned so much about the deaf and the blind and what their needs really are.
Appreciative of the work the Lions Club do on behalf of the blind, Thompson said, has kept him an active member all of these years.
‘Ths Lions Club is the largest service organization in the world,? he said. ‘I get a lot more than I give.?
Helen Keller’s address to the Lions? international convention at Cedar Point in Ohio in 1925, Thompson said, was pivotal to the Lions? dedication to help the blind worldwide.
Keller challenged Lions that year to become ‘knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.? From that point on, the Lions clubs have been actively involved in service to the blind and visually impaired.
Getting ready for their busiest time of the year, the Goodrich Lions Club will be gearing up for some of their biggest events.
‘On April 18 and 19 we will be having our white cane sale at the Goodrich Plaza,? said Thompson. ‘We will be out in front of Tom’s Coney with our oversized white canes to collect donations.?
As June approaches, the Lions Club will work together with Goodrich Schools to help students.
‘This year we will give out three $1,000 scholarships to Goodrich High School seniors. Students can ask their counselors about the details for applying,? said Thompson.
At the end of the school year, Thompson said their Lions club will honor the top ten seniors at Goodrich High School and their parents with a dinner at their clubhouse.
‘A lot of our members are getting older now, so we are looking for some new and younger people to join our club,? said Thompson.
‘We meet for dinner and a meeting twice a month, and Cranberries caters our dinner. As far as involvement, that is up to each member.?
Details: Emery Bennett, (810) 636-2453 or Frank Hecht, (810) 636-7222.