Lions are changing the world.

Lions around the world are Stepping Up to Serve

FROM THIS PAGE, GO TO: Disaster Preparedness & Response, Diabetes Awareness, Childhood Cancer, Hearing, Listen Up!, Hunger, Mental Health & Well-Being, Environment, Humanitarian, Vision, Ball for All, White Cane, Youth Services, Peace Contests, Bland Competition

IP Mark Lyon
"Service first! That's how we will grow our numbers."

Did You Know?

  • 25.3 million people are displaced each year by disasters.
  • 820 million people don’t have enough to eat.
  • Every 2 minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer.
  • Globally, 1 in 11 adults has diabetes.
  • Only 14 percent of people who need hospice care receive it.
  • Half of the world will soon live in water stressed areas.

There is a world in need and Lions are helping with support and service to our communities and the world.

Updates:

SEPTEMBER 2026 -- Evelyn Marr, Global Service Team Chair -- Get ready for the Lions Vision Week of Service, October 8–18, 2026! Together, we can help prevent avoidable blindness, improve access to eye care and support people who are blind and visually impaired. Below are some meaningful ways to serve:

  • Organize a vision screening to help identify potential vision concerns early.
  • Collect and recycle eyeglasses so usable glasses can support people who need vision care.
  • Support World Sight Day on October 8 or International White Cane Safety Day on October 15 with an awareness or service activity.
  • Partner with local eye-care organizations to expand your community impact.
  • Report your service activity in the Lion Portal so we can celebrate the difference Lions are making worldwide.
Use the Vision Service Project Ideas resource to get started, and explore more opportunities on the Vision global cause webpage.

AUGUST 2026 -- Evelyn Marr, Global Service Team Chair -- Thanks to those who attended the Club Service Chair training on August 20.  If you were unable to attend, you can view the video and report training completion by emailing your name, club, and club office to GLT Chair, Lion Don Bradley.

As we plan for an exciting year of service, I invite every club to plan activities, service weeks, and recognition opportunities. These programs bring Lions and Leos together around shared causes while helping us make an even greater impact in our communities.

Weeks of Service:

A Week of Service is a wonderful opportunity to invite prospective members, involve families and friends, strengthen community partnerships, and demonstrate our shared legacy of service.
  • Vision: October 8–18, 2026
  • Youth: February 13–21, 2027
  • Environment: May 29–June 6, 2027

Service Opportunities:

Schedule projects that are meaningful, hands-on, and enjoyable for your members and community partners. Some ideas are:
  • Vision screenings or eyeglass-recycling projects
  • White Cane event
  • Activities supporting children and youth
  • Environmental cleanups, tree planting, or conservation projects
  • Partnerships with other Lions clubs, Leo clubs and community organizations
  • Fellowship events that bring members together before and after serving

Programs and Activities:

  • Peace Poster and Peace Essay Contest -- Sponsor a Peace Contest. The submission deadline is November 15.
  • Bland Music Competition -- Promote this unique Virginia tradition that encourages and supports musically talented children by holding a local competition. District level winners progress to the state competition held at the State Convention.
  • A Ball for All -- Lions taught visually impaired students in Nairobi how to play football using a specially designed ball. The program, founded by a Lion, distributes the balls to children at no cost, helping make the game accessible to everyone.
  • Listen Up! Program -- Support preschool hearing screening designed to detect late onset hearing loss before a child starts kindergarten.  This program is currently raising funds to purchase the testing devices. Financial support from individuals and clubs is needed.

Kindness Matters Service Award:

This award is for an innovative service project that has made a positive impact in a community. Eligible projects must address at least one of the eight global causes, demonstrate creativity and innovation, create a positive and memorable impact, and raise awareness of Lions International. Service projects must be reported in the Lion Portal. Applications are due to me by February 28, 2027. I send the winner to the Multiple District by March 31 and the MD sends the winner to LCI by April 30.

Report and Share Plans:

After each service activity, use the Lions Portal so your club’s impact can be included in Lions International’s worldwide service story.
Report your club’s plans, project ideas, and other Lions activities to remlik@verizon.net. Sharing plans helps us celebrate our achievements, encourage collaboration, and promote opportunities for members and community partners to participate.
Let’s make this a year filled with fun, fellowship and meaningful service, while continuing the proud legacy of Lions in our communities. Thank you for all you do to serve. I look forward to seeing the creativity, enthusiasm, and compassion our clubs bring to these opportunities.

Ways We Serve:

Go to the Lions International Service Areas

Ways We Serve in our District:

More Information:

Tools:

  • Service Reporting
  • SignUpGenius -- This free platform is a great way to recruit volunteers for service projects and fundraising events.
  • Donate to LCIF
  • Lions WhatsApp Channel – Discover fresh service ideas, inspiring stories and practical tools — and connect with Lions around the world.
  • Lion AI – AI offers great potential for your club and your service. Learn how Lion AI can help power your service and find other great AI tools that Lions are using.

Community Volunteering:

There are many organizations where volunteers can serve in groups and as individuals. Below are just a few:

Share your Best Practices:

As Lions, our greatest strength lies in the ways we serve our communities. Every project, every act of service, and every partnership creates ripple effects of positive change. To celebrate and learn from these successes, we invite you to share your best practices in service activities. Your experiences can inspire other clubs and community partners to expand their impact. By documenting and sharing what works best in your community, we strengthen our collective ability to serve.