By June Cotner
Special to the Herald
POULSBO — What do pancake breakfasts, scholarships, holiday food baskets, flags, boardwalks, children at play and fishing all have in common?
They are just some of the many projects the Poulsbo Noon Lions have created to provide support and enrichment for the North Kitsap community.
The Poulsbo Noon Lions Club was formed in 1942 and will celebrate its 70th anniversary Sept. 20 at the Sons of Norway.
Lions clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with nearly 1.3 million members with approximately 45,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired, provided natural disaster relief, and made a strong commitment to community services and serving youth throughout the world.
The Poulsbo Noon Lions Club is dedicated to helping those in need and creating an environment that allows members to enrich their own lives by helping others. In 2007, the Evening Pride Branch was chartered so that community members have the option to attend evening meetings.
Look around North Kitsap and you will see the efforts of dedicated Lions everywhere. Through the Poulsbo Lions Bellringer Campaign, Lions raise funds for distribution throughout the year to help those in the community who need assistance. Working with Fishline, Lions distribute holiday food baskets to low-income families. Lions provide weekly food pickup from area supermarkets for the Fishline Food Bank.
Lions have provided heavy labor for the Liberty Bay Boardwalk along the Poulsbo shoreline; Fish Park boardwalk and viewing platforms; installation of replacement playground equipment in American Legion Park; and placing flags throughout the community on all legal holidays and during Viking Fest.Lions Park in Poulsbo is the signature park for which the Lions provided new playground equipment and repairs. Other activities for children include the Easter Egg Hunt at Raab Park and the Hooked on Fish Derby in April.
The Viking Fest Lions Pancake Breakfast is the club’s big fundraiser. Net proceeds go to scholarships for North Kitsap area high school students.
The Poulsbo Noon Lions chartered the North Kitsap Vikings LEO Club at North Kitsap High School in 1999, the Poulsbo Middle School LEO Club in 2005, and Kingston High School LEO Club in 2007. LEOs participate in many community service projects including blood drives, winter clothing drives, and raising funds for vision screening.
The Poulsbo Noon Lions has 83 members and meets every Thursday at 12:15 p.m. at First Lutheran Church. The Evening Pride Branch meets the first and third Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at St. Olaf’s Church.
For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit www.lionsclubs.org. For more information about Poulsbo Noon Lions Club, visit www.poulsbolions.org and the blog at www.poulsbolions.blogspot.com.
For membership information, contact Membership Chairman Matthew Alvarado, Poulsbo Noon Lions Club, matthewalvarado305@gmail.com.
