Projects and Programs - Sonora Lions Club

The following is a list of some of the projects and programs we endorse.

All-Star Football – This is an annual event to help high school football players hone, fine-tune, and showcase their skills. This game is typically held in mid-June each year. We sponsor students from the Sonora High School football team and provide the entire group with part of the meal to kick off the event.
ATCAA Food Bank – We have supported them through financial donations every year and by collecting donated food items and helping to sort and pack donated food items for their clients in our community. More recently we have joined forces together to have a community Turkey Drive just prior to Thanksgiving.
Bags for Benches – We collect clean and dry plastic bags and wraps to recycle and have made them into benches for the public to use. Currently, we are working with elementary schools in our community, having them help in the collection process, to earn the bench for their school campus.
Blood Donation Program – An endorsed project of the Sonora Lions Club. Members may donate either whole blood or plasma to the local Blood Bank.
Columbia College Scholarships (6) – We currently sponsor six scholarships (a total of $6,000) for returning college students to aid in their education and to help them achieve their degrees.
Community Outreach Program – This is a Sonora Lions Club-endorsed program. Members can provide service to individuals or other entities such as churches, other service clubs, or businesses. This can include things such as city beautifying days, providing information at events, river clean-ups, participating in city-wide activities, etc.
Community Roots Resources event at the fairgrounds. Last year was the first of its kind event to provide information and needed resources that are available to the citizens of our community of which they may not be aware.
Diann Kaiser Memorial Hospital Equipment Loan Program (H.E.L.P.) – We store and provide hospital equipment such as wheelchairs, crutches, commodes, and other various medical items for residents in the area who are in need of them for short periods of time. For more information, please click on the H.E.L.P. link at the top of this page.
Ear of the Lion Program – We collect hearing aids (their accessories and batteries) and send them on so they can be refurbished, recycled, and redistributed and also assist qualified clients in obtaining the hearing aids/exams, etc., that they might need.
Elderly/Disabled Persons Assistance Program – This is a Sonora Lions Club-endorsed program. This could include providing transportation or doing a service for an elderly/disabled person, or some other such activity that they cannot perform themselves.
Eyeglass collection – We collect donated eyeglasses from 8 different locations around the county for refurbishing and redistribution to underserved communities in neighboring countries. The collection sites are as follows: Dr. Wallace Stuart’s office, Dr. Victor Child’s office, Dr. Peter Shumway’s office, Donaldson Eye Care Center, Sierra Vista Optometry, Sonora Senior Center (the big yellow mailbox in front by the bus stop), Walmart Vision Center, and Terzich & Wilson Funeral Home. You may also give your used/unneeded eyeglasses to any Sonora Lions Club member for recycling.
Flag Day – We provide a short program about the history of our Nation’s flag and demonstrate the proper care and handling of our flag to local elementary school students. We also give each student attending the rally a small flag of their very own.
Food Pantry Program – This is a Sonora Lions Club-endorsed program. Members may provide assistance in local food pantries or food banks, by helping to sort, bag, and distribute donated items to needy clients in the community.
Friends of the Pets Club – This program is associated with the Meals on Wheels program, where we provide needed pet food for their clients who receive weekly Meals on Wheels deliveries and have pets.
Highway Cleanup – We provide cleanup services along Highway 132, helping to beautify the road and helping the environment.
Interfaith Services – We assist this valuable community service with monetary donations every year and also have volunteers helping with sorting donated items and assisting clients when they come for aid. We are there every last Thursday of each month with an information table at the facility to provide information on the eye and hearing programs, and other various ways that Lions help in the community.
Jamestown Blacksmith Museum Restoration – The Sonora Lions Club was very instrumental in the restoration process of the old Blacksmith Museum in Rocca Park, Jamestown.
Jamestown Gazebo Restoration – We were the driving force behind the rebuilding and restoration of this historical landmark in Rocca Park, Jamestown.
Lions Eye Foundation – We give monetary donations to this worthy cause, that helps people get the assistance and medical aid they need related to their eye health.
Lions in Sight of California and Nevada – This program provides clinic trips to underserved countries to prescribe and redistribute recycled eyeglasses to those in need, to provide used eyeglasses to other Lions Clubs worldwide, and to ensure the eyeglasses are appropriately prescribed and distributed.
Lions Project for Canine Companions – (Previously known as Lions Project for Canine Companions for Independence) This program provides financial and service support for Canine Companions. This non-profit organization provides specially trained assistance dogs for people with physical, developmental, and hearing disabilities, and Veterans with PTSD.
Meals on Wheels – We have members volunteering their time by delivering meals to qualified clients in our county and also members working “behind the lines” ensuring the recipients receive top-notch service and attention.
Mother Lode Food Project – This is more commonly known to our group as the Green Bag Program. Every other month (during even-numbered months) we collect nonperishable food items and bring them in as a big food drive for this local program.
Parker’s Prom – We contribute monetarily to this program that provides assistance to children with cancer who might otherwise never be able to experience the joy and amazement of their “senior prom.”
Peace Poster Contest/Essay Contest – Every year a theme is chosen as the subject for this contest (relating to peace) and children in elementary schools (ages 11-13) participate by creating posters that they feel best represent the theme. This is a worldwide contest and the winner of the contest can win a $5,000 grand prize. The essay component of this contest is for visually impaired students who may not be able to draw or paint well but have the opportunity to write an essay describing their interpretation of the theme.
Read to Succeed Program – This is a reading “contest” in our local elementary schools where we encourage the students in grades 1-6 to read as many books at their assigned reading level during the month of February, take a short quiz, pass it, and then get an entry ticket to put in the “bucket” for their grade level. At the end of the contest, each grade will have one ticket drawn and that student will win a new Amazon Fire-7 tablet with a protective cover and stylus.
Rim Fire, Detwiler Fire, Butte Fire, and Carr Fire Evacuee Aid – We provided meals, clothing, money, and supplies to displaced residents of these fires.
Rising Star Award – This program is designed to recognize one special 8th-grader in their respective school as they prepare to enter high school. These students are chosen by their teachers because of their determination and strength to improve themselves and who have shown remarkable resiliency in their lives. This is not necessarily based on the highest grades, but rather on their ability to shine and overcome any obstacles in their way. They are awarded $100 to encourage them to keep up the good work. We are currently working with nine (9) schools in our area.
Sonora Lions Park Restoration – Sonora has its very own Sonora Lions Park, located on Barretta St. right next to the historic Dome Building. We rallied the community to help us in refurbishing and restoring this park to its former beauty and usefulness to provide a lovely area in which to rest, picnic, and relax. Pictures have been added to our Photograph page.
Student Speakers Contest – Each year, local high school students are encouraged to write and deliver speeches on the chosen subject theme. There are several levels they can work their way through, competing with other students from other schools and districts. Each level of competition pays a certain monetary amount, with the final winner receiving over $22,000 in college scholarships.
Tree Mortality Aid Program (TMAP) – This program was created by the Sonora Lions Club, which joined with many other agencies and groups to help the local seniors and disabled persons in our community. The ongoing years-long drought and then subsequent bark beetle infestation were killing off many trees on both public and private properties, putting lives and property in jeopardy. The Sonora Lions Club wanted to do something about the plight of those who could not afford to have those affected trees removed, so we launched this project, along with the help of other entities, to provide assistance to seniors and disabled clients in our community in removing the dead and dying trees on their properties.
Tuolumne County Health Fair – Every year the community gathers together to provide assistance, aid, and valuable information to local residents. Our club provides a glaucoma screening for visitors.
Tuolumne County School S.T.E.A.M. Expo (Science Fair) – We provide set-up and take-down assistance in this bi-yearly event and furnish the trophies and plaques for the students winning in their category.
Tuolumne County Volunteer Fair – Each year we set up a booth at the local fairgrounds, along with hundreds of other volunteer groups, and provide the community with information about who were are and what we do.
Turkey Drive – The Sonora Lions Club and ATCAA Food Bank joined together to host an annual Turkey Drive to feed the needy in our community. Donation collection sites are in front of Safeway Supermarket, with satellite donation stores of Walmart and SaveMart.
Veterans Free Breakfast – The Sonora Lions Club helps support the Sierra Senior Providers (Senior Center) who provide a free meal on the first Thursday of each month for Veterans and their guests. The Club provides a variety of fresh-baked donuts for breakfast.
VIP (Visually Impaired Person) Assistance Program – This is a Sonora Lions Club-endorsed program. Members can provide transportation and/or assistance to visually impaired persons to get to appointments, do their shopping, or do some other task.