Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
On Friday, Nov. 11, the aroma of wood-fired smoke filled the air around Four Freedoms Park during the morning and midday hours. As time drew near for the midday meal, many were drawn to the tempting smell of chicken cooking on the grill. Not only were those who bought a chicken dinner sure to enjoy a tasty meal, they were also helping one of Madison's oldest service organizations, the Madison Lions Club.
The Madison Lions Club dates back to the 1940s, but Lions International goes back even further. The international service organization's roots extend back to 1917, when a Chicago businessman named Melvin Jones had the desire to tackle problems facing society and communities in the wake of World War One. He gathered like-minded businessmen and clubs together to form the Association of Lions Clubs. Three years later, the organization truly became international when clubs were formed in nearby Canada. In 1925, Helen Keller urged the Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against blindness." Since then, blindness prevention has been one of the primary causes for Lions International.
The Madison Lions Club carries this cause into Madison by offering vision screenings for area children, as well as other eyesight preservation projects. Eyesight preservation is not the only cause for the local Lions Club. Each year, during the holiday season, the Madison Lions Club provides food boxes for area families. These boxes contain a variety of groceries, both frozen foods and canned goods that provide food for needy families and help make their holiday season a bit better. The Lions Club also sponsors the yearly "God and Country" Fourth of July celebration on Lake Francis.
The money raised from the sale of the chicken dinners helps to support these and many other community service projects undertaken by the Madison Lions Club.