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Projects
57 Annual MusicalsSince 1952 the Keene Lions Club has produced a full-fledged Broadway-styled musical. Each year we are amazed at the amount of talent that our community has to offer.Puctured to the right, "Oklahoma" took to the stage for four performances at The Colonial Theatre in 2002. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of many club members and non-club members throughout the community, Keene Lions Club shows raise over $15,000.00 for Lions Charities annually. "Kiss Me, Kate" is on the agenda for February 2010... stay tuned for details!
The ducks are launched into the Ashuelot River and float downstream to the finish line about a quarter-mile away. The ducks race to earn their sponsors a chance at the $5,000.00 cash grand prize. All total over $11,000.00 in cash and prizes are awarded each year. Race day is a day of events for the whole family. The Keene Police Dept. puts on a bicycle safety course for the kids and we run a Kid Care ID Program as well. A Family-style chicken B-B-Q is held and there is a live band. Families can bring the kids and enjoy the day with the grand finale being the announcement of the top prize winners. Lions MintsLions mints have provided a steady source of funds for the Keene Lions Club since 1987. Currently, there are over 50 local businesses that have donated some counter space and allowed our displays to be installed. Lions mints are a great deal for the consumer at only 25¢ apiece. All of those quarters add up to almost $5,000.00 every year.We are currently looking for local businesses that would be willing to support their community by allowing the Keene Lions Club to place a mint tray in their business. All of the maintenance is taken care of by the Lions Club members, all that is required of you is the donation of less than one square foot of counter space. If your business would like to donate space for a Lions Mints tray please email us. Holiday Citrus SaleEach year in November and December, we hold our annual Citrus Sale. We've found that there is nothing like a nice succulent, juicy orange in the morning to brush off those winter blues.Lions Light Bulb SaleIn past year's the club had designated a night to go door-to-door in groups of 4-5 Lions. The night usually turned out to be a whole lot of fun for everyone involved.After a brief hiatus, the light bulb sale returned in 1997. However, the door-to-door approach gave way to setting up tables at select business locations on a weekend in late October. Twin State Soccer MatchWhat began as a dream of a few Vermont soccer coaches in 1973 was finally realized in 1975 with the playing of the first Lions Twin-State Soccer Cup Match.Nearly 2000 spectators came to see a game that was the result of Vermont and New Hampshire soccer coaches working together. With girls' soccer being the fastest growing sport in New England, a girls' match was added in 1983. Since the first game in 1975, the site of the game has rotated between locations in New Hampshire and Vermont. Since that first match in 1975, over $370,000 has been raised for Lions projects in Vermont and New Hampshire. The Lions of both states pull together each year to make the matches a success. Funds are raised both through the sale of tickets to the event and through advertising space that is sold in the game day program. The money raised from the games is evenly divided between the two states and goes to fund a variety of projects important to those states. In New Hampshire the funds go to the Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation of New Hampshire, Inc., which supports projects throughout the state. The Foundation awards grants to Lions and Lioness Clubs for sight and hearing projects they are unable to fund alone. Eyeglass Recycling Many people are unaware that their old eyeglasses can still be put to good use long after their prescription has changed.
The Keene Lions Club accepts donations of used eyewear and we see to it that those glasses are put to good use - sometimes in the local area, other times halfway around the world.
The Keene Post Office has been kind enough to allow us to locate an eyewear drop box in the lobby of the post office on Main St. Eyewear donations may be made at any time by simply dropping your used eyewear into the purple "mail box" with the gold Lions emblem emblazened on the sides. If using the drop box is not convenient for you, a club member will be happy to make arrangements to pick up your old eyegalsses in person. Just let us know. Junior LionsWe support an active Junior Lions program. Students in their 3rd year at Keene High School regularly attend our noon Luncheon meetings, participate in projects and deliver speeches to the entire club membership. We are proud to be able to introduce the principals of Lionism to America's next generation of voluteers.Salvation Army Bell RingingEach December, the Keene Lions Club pitches in to assist the Salvation Army's "Red Kettle" fund raising efforts. Club members head to the streets and shopping malls around Keene to ring the familiar sounding bells.Roadside CleanupTaking part in the State of New Hampshire's "Adopt a Highway" program, the Keene Lions Club has taken responsibility for a stretch of Route 9 on West Hill. Several times each year, the Lions Club "Chain Gang" spends a Saturday morning gathering rubbish and other "interesting" objects from the 2 mile stretch of road.Participants usually have an interesting story or two about what has been found. Usually, the clean-up crew comes back with a clear understanding of (1)Which fast food chains are most popular among west-bound travelers and (2) Which beer is the real "King of Beers" in Cheshire County. Additionally, they gain a profound sense of gratitude that the club has adopted Route 9 instead of Route 12 heading north out of Keene (because that's the road to the dump). Sure it's a dirty job... but nobody said being a Lion was going to be glamorous |
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