Please note that our new partner is Inova Blood Services.
Appointments Requested! Click to make an appointment online or call 1.866.256.6372.

The Damascus Lions Club is pleased to announce that we are now partnering with Inova Blood Services. Inova supplies blood to many hospitals here in Montgomery County as well as other surrounding counties. Inova has an appointment system much like the Red Cross. If you are a donor, please register for an appointment as soon as you can.

https://www.inovabloodsaves.org/index.cfm?group=op&expand=4951&zc=20872 Or if you prefer, you can call and set up an appointment at 1.866.256.6372

We hope to see you there!

The Damascus Lions Club annual Fall Holiday Giving Project – November 18-19.  Scroll down for the project timeline.

The Damascus Lions have been in the Holiday Giving Project since its inception. In fact, it was the Damascus Lions who began the project in the early 1950s.  The Lions collected used clothing and toys and gave food to families in the area that Lions were familiar with that needed assistance.  It may have been one or two families at that time but it was a well received project.  As time passed by, Damascus Help became involved and provided the nearly new clothing and purchased some clothing.  The Lions would collect and purchase the food and deliver to the assigned families, sometimes upward to 60 families. Help started keeping a list of area families that were in need.  Our Lion Members, Hilda and Ken Diggs, heralded Help in so many different ways.  Upon Hilda’s illness and around 1995, DELIA, Damascus Ecumenical Layman’s Association, along with Help administered the program and at that point, the Lions took 30 families as we then needed to purchase the clothing and the toys ourselves.  And about 6 years ago we added Thanksgiving to our project. Thus, the plan we follow today went into effect.  Today Faith Connections, Inc. administers this up-county project serving upward to 300 families. The families must apply for this assistance through the county.  This is where Faith Connections get the names. With their program, the chance of families getting multiple deliveries of food and gifts is almost nonexistent.  The Lions will be serving 30 families for each holiday. Great Program!

Nov 8        Board Meeting – Gladhill Bros

Nov 15      Dinner Meeting – Spouse Night @ Wesley Grove UMC

Nov 18-19        Holiday Giving Project @ TBD

Nov 21       Blood Drive            @ DVFD Activities Center

Dec 1        Senior Birthday Party @ Damascus Senior Center

Dec 6        Dinner Meeting @ Wesley Grove UM Church

Dec 13      Holiday Party @ Damascus UM Church

Dec 14-18  Holiday Giving Project @ Damascus UM Church

Dec 20      Board Meeting @ Gladhill Bros [NOTE CHANGE OF DAY]

Damascus Volunteer Fire Department Activities Center
10211 Lewis Drive
Damascus, Md

Doors open at 5:30 pm – Games begin at 7:00 pm

Food by the DVFD will be available to purchase.

Tickets are $20.00 in advance and $25 at the door – this includes 20 games and 4 specials.

Bring a pair of used eyeglasses or hearing aids for the Lions to recycle and receive a FREE 3 game card and a chance to win a Retired Medium Storage Solutuions Basket donated by King Lion Vicki Dotterer.

Filled Baskets – Raffles – Door Prizes

Tables will be reserved – Advance Reservations Recommended.

For reservations call Shirley Barnard 240-315-8999 or Lion Mary Frances Gosnell 301-829-1002

****DOWNLOAD INFORMATION FLYER****

Yep, you got it, free popcorn. We have a new popcorn machine this year and we hope that it can keep up with the demand a bit better.  We keep that popper going for three solid days and the fair goers have become accustomed to looking forward to free popcorn while enjoying the fair.   We permeate the grounds and fair goers follow the scent.

The Lions Booth will be open from 9 am to 8 pm Friday and Saturday and 9 am – 3 pm on Sunday

Monies collected are used to support programs and services for people who are blind or visually impaired as well as for sight conservation.

History of the White Cane

In 1921, James Biggs, a photographer from Bristol, England became blind following an accident. Because he was feeling uncomfortable with the amount of traffic around his home, he painted his walking stick white to be more easily visible.

In the United States, the introduction of the White Cane is attributed to Lion George A. Bonham (Peoria Lions Club). In 1930, he observed a man who was blind attempting to cross the street with a black cane that was barely visible to motorists against the dark pavement. The Lion offered to paint the cane white to make it more visible. By 1931, the Peoria Lions Club approved the project and white canes were made and distributed. The Peoria City Council adopted an ordinance giving the bearers the right-of-way to cross the street. The news of the club’s activity spread to other Lions Clubs, and the white cane became known by the blind and sighted alike as a means of identifying the safe mobility needs of the visually impaired. In 1931, Lions Clubs International began a program promoting the use of White Canes for people who are blind.

Also in 1931, in France, Guilly d’Herbemont recognized the danger of blind people in traffic and launched a national “white stick movement” for blind people. She donated 5,000 white canes to people in Paris.

While the White Cane is commonly accepted as a “symbol of blindness”, various countries have different rules concerning what constitutes a “cane for the blind.” In the United Kingdom, for example, the White Cane is recognized as being used by visually impaired persons; if the cane has two red bands added, it indicates that the user is deaf-blind. In some areas, the cane is yellow.

In the United States, laws vary from state to state, but in all cases, those carrying white canes are afforded the right of way when crossing a road and when in a public place.

(This information is from the Lions Club International Website)

The Damascus Lions Club will serve ice cream on Tuesday, August 16th.  Don’t forget to stop by and see us!

Aug 16      Ice Cream Dipping @ Montgomery County Fair

Aug 18      Sight & Hearing Testing @ Montgomery County Fair

Sept 9 – 11 Damascus Community Fair @ DVFD Grounds

Sept 13      Board Meeting @ Gladhill Bros

Sept 19      Blood Drive @ DVFD Activities Center

Sept 20      Dinner Meeting- Prospective Member Night @ Wesley Grove UMC

Sept 30      Basket Bingo @ DVFD Activities Center