Lions Open the Door to Service

Lions Focus Work On Preventable Blindness, Camp For Crippled Kids
BATON ROUGE — Nearly 100 Lions from 15 clubs in the Baton Rouge area gathered for a Lions Expo last Saturday at the BREC headquarters on Florida Boulevard.
It was an opportunity for long-time Lions such as Bill Simon to talk about how Lions Clubs provide an opportunity for people to help their fellow man.
“We concentrate on two areas,” he said. “Lions Clubs around the world work to prevent blindness.  Here in Louisiana, we also operate the crippled children’s camp in Leesville.”  Simon’s eyes begin to sparkle — and sometimes moisten up — as he recalls his many trips, taking handicapped or diabetic children from the Baton Rouge area to summer camp.
He recalls the young boy born with no arms.  The first morning they wouldn’t play reveille or raise the flag because he hadn’t made his bed.  When he realized the problem, he went to his bed and laboriously made his bed, using his feet.
That was the beginning of a world of change for that young man, who is now self sufficient, drives using his feet, and serves on the board of the camp.
Today, the Lions Club needs young — and old — people to join and serve.  For information, call Bill Simon at 751-3656.