Through service projects and donations, our club serves our local community, King George, Virginia, and also our state, national, and international communities. Our major focus in these service activities is the eradication of preventable blindness. In 1925 Helen Keller challenged the Lions to be Knights of the Blind. She also led to our other major focus of hearing by reminding us that she was as deaf as she was blind.
Along with our service activities in sight and hearing, we also provide services related to youth, community betterment, and more. Below, you will find the types of service projects that we provide, and also the donations that we make to help serve our community.
Sight and Hearing Services
Eye exams and glasses. We help provide eye exams and eyeglasses to those in need in our community.
Sight and hearing screening. Utilizing the Lions Mobile Screening van and Pedia-Vision, we provide free sight, hearing, and glaucoma screenings to the community.
Eyeglass and hearing aid recycling. Drop Boxes are located in several locations in King George, VA, for the community to drop of old eye glasses and hearing aids they no longer need or want.
Hearing exams and hearing aids. We help provide hearing exams and hearing aids to those in need in our community.
Diabetes screening. Working with Mary Washington Hospital, we provide free diabetes screenings.
Lions Eyeglass Recycling of Northern Virginia. It is a division of The Lions Eyeglass Recycling, Inc. of Lions Multiple District 24, one of the six recycling centers located in the United States. Through this Lions organization, we are able to provide eyeglasses for those in need around the world.
Youth Services
King George High School Leo Club. The Leos are a High School service club sponsored by the Lions Club.
Bland Music Competition. Instrumental and vocal competition sponsored by Virginia Lions Clubs. Over $25,000 is awarded yearly in state, regional, district, and local scholarships and cash awards.
Peace Poster Contest. This contest features the theme of peace, and is open to 11-13 year olds. The winners at the international level receive scholarships and recognition for their achievement.
Scholarship. Each year our club provides a $1000.00 ($500.00 for two semesters) scholarship to a graduating senior.
World Affairs Seminar. Each year we sponsor a high school student to the World Affairs Seminar.
King George Little League. We provide support to the King George Little League.
Drug Awareness. Our club makes an annual donation in support of the After Prom Party at King George High School.
Community Betterment
World Service Day. Elderly community members are invited as guest for a day, to visit and dine with members of the Dahlgren Lions Club. These community members have a world of stories to tell and memories to be treasured.
Highway Cleanup. Approximately 4 times a year a clean-up crew assembles just south of the Harry Nice Bridge, Route 301, and picks up refuse scattered along a 2 mile stretch of highway. This effort normally involves about 15 Lions, family and friends on each occasion and takes about 1 to 2 hours.
King George Fall Festival. This community event raises money for service organizations. Our club helps with various activities such as selling food at the Fair, YMCA’s Fall Festival 5k, and more.
Community help. We also provide other services as needed in our community: window insulation, small home repairs, and more.
Donations
Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF). LCIF is the grant-making arm of Lions Clubs International (LCI). The foundation’s mission is to support the efforts of Lions clubs around the world in serving their local and global communities by funding humanitarian service projects. LCIF has granted more than US$220 million for projects that improve the quality of life for individuals and communities worldwide.
Old Dominion Eye Foundation. Donations are made to the Old Dominion Eye Bank each year in support of their research and assistance.
Leader Dogs for the Blind. This Lions organization provides guide dogs to the blind at no cost.
Lions Mobile Sight and Hearing Screening Van. This Lions service operates on the donations provided by Lions Clubs.
Virginia Lions Hearing Foundation & Research Center. This Lions organization provides research, education, diagnostic exams regarding hearing impairment.