Lions Club Candy Day event next week

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The Williamston Lions Club will hold their annual Candy Day and Broom Sale event October 4 and 5. Lions Club members will be at BB&T and Community First Banks in Williamston and at Bi-Lo in Pelzer selling Lions brooms, mops and offering candy mints for a donation.

Proceeds go to fund the Lions programs including a Mobile Health Screening Unit, Camp Lions Den, Camp Leo, The Health Services Program and the South Carolina Lions Charitable Services (SCLCS) Affordable Hearing Aid Program.

The local Lions will join Lions across the state and nation for the successful fundraising event.

South Carolina Lions Charitable Services first explored Candy Day in May of 1970, soon after a group of Lions from the State of Illinois introduced the program to the Lions of Multiple District 32.

The statewide fundraiser was proposed to generate the revenue needed to fund the programs of newly formed South Carolina Lions Sight Conservation Association, the 501( C ) 3 arm of MD-32.

The project was adopted as the major fundraiser for the state, with all proceeds going to South Carolina Lions Sight Conservation Association.

The first state-wide Candy Days were held in October of 1970 and the first year’s total revenue was $24,787.92. This program proved to be a tremendous success with contributions reaching $230,000 by 1982.

Unfortunately, due to changing economic times, and restrictions on street collections, Candy Day revenues have declined in recent years but Lions Club members across the state still carry on the program.

Camp Lions Den is a residential camping program for the visually handicapped of South Carolina. It is sponsored by the Mid-Day Lions Club of Anderson, SC and South Carolina Lions, Inc. The camp is administered by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management of Clemson University.

Camp Leo provides a unique experience for the sight impaired children of South Carolina. All campers are legally blind although most have some sight. Most of the campers’ families are of modest means and would be unable to afford camp for their children even if a “for pay” camp was available.

The Health Services Program was created more than 35 years ago to help financially needy South Carolinians receive eye surgery or treatments they need but cannot afford. Qualified applicants receive quality medical treatment with dignity, confidentiality and compassion.

The South Carolina Lions Charitable Services (SCLCS) Affordable Hearing Aid Program is intended for those individuals who lack the financial means to obtain hearing aids. The program is intended to be the “last resort” when all other resources are exhausted.