On September 25, 1953, twenty-five Huntington residents came together with one goal in mind:
Community Service. Today
the Melville Lions Club strives to uphold that promise made 50 years ago. One has only to look at some of our accomplishments
to see that we have been, and will continue to be, a group of dedicated men and women, working together in fellowship
and pride to better serve our community.
In 1985
we held our first Beauty Pageant, which spanned thirteen years and was one of our most profitable fundraisers, as was our
Octoberfest. Now our major fundraiser is our Wine and Food Gala, which brought in thirty-one thousand dollars in profit, breaking
all records.
Numerous guide dogs have been sponsored by our
club, allowing sight-impaired people the companionship and guidance of a trusted canine friend. Eyeglasses have been collected
and refurbished then sent to third world countries; and here, in the US, children in need of eye exams now see the world a
little brighter. In 1988 the Lions Eye Bank of LI at North Shore University was dedicated and to date, our club is an active
supporter, with three of our members serving on the board.
Three District
Governors hail from The Melville Lions Club and another is coming up the ranks, placing us in the top five clubs in the district
to have the most District Governors from one group. We have several life members and Melvin Jones Fellows .
With the growing number of new members, who have jumped right in and offered their serves,
there is no doubt that the Melville Lions Club is headed for bigger and better goals.