Stanley Club has been catalyst in many community improvements

The Stanley Lions Club is now nearly 75 years old and still serving our community. Next year will be the diamond jubilee for the organization that came into existence under the sponsorship of the Cornell Lions Club on April 12, 1934. There were twenty-two members when the Stanley Lions Club was chartered. The history of the organization indicates that the role of Lionism in society is, “To do justly, to show mercy and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8). On a state level, Lionism has been primarily focused on serving individuals who are visually impaired. Lions Camp at Rosholt has served the blind since its establishment and in later years increased its mission to serve intellectually challenged individuals.

On a local level, the Stanley Lions Club has either been in a leadership role, or as a cooperating catalyst, in many community betterment projects. One of the organizations first projects was the recreational development of Chapman Park. The Lions and Stanley Legion, lead in having lights installed at the parks playing field, Next came the building of Maves Memorial Pavilion, installation of playground equipment, tennis courts, bleachers, deer park, etc. Over in Fandry Park, the Lions Club built the original pavilion and have rebuilt it once.

_ There have been many other community contributions that will be highlighted during the clubs 75th Anniversary celebration in 2021.

Today the Stanley Lions remain focused on community support in a goodly number of ways. Annual donations in the past year have included five scholarships in the amount of $3,100, $600 to support two Stanley-Boyd High School juniors attending Badger Boys and Badger Girls State, $800 for the Annual Chartering of Troop 50 Boy Scouts, $400 donated to the Chippewa County Spirit of Christmas Program that brings many wonderful Christmas gifts to Stanley area family units, $125 donated to a countywide Specials Needs purchase yarn that prisoners use knitting mittens and scarfs for Stanley- Boyd students, and $250 was donated to increase the corpus of the Stanley Community Fund which returns dollars each year to support making our community a better place. In addition, the Lions Club put on Brat Dinners at Sunset Homes, Moon Park Apartments and Country Terrace annually. In total these endeavors contribute $6,400 back to the community each year. In addition, the Stanley Lions have committed a donation of $10,000 to the new Community Building that is being built at Chapman Park.

On a State and International Level, the Stanley Lions contribute $1,200 annually to support such efforts as Diabetes Awareness, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Wisconsin Lions Camp, LCIF (an international fund to help in communities suffering disasters), and Mission to Mexico where medical equipment, school supplies and glasses are brought to needy children and their families.

With COVID-19 resulting in the cancellation of the Stanley Lions Annual Watermelon Festival, fundraising events were put on to replace the money lost. Included were a brat and pork chop sandwich sale at Hansen’s IGA, selling cheese curds three days from the Stanley Rodeo Committee’s food wagon near Soo Park and a garage sale the two weekends of Citywide Garage Sales. Totally, from these endeavors, slightly over $4,000 were made. The Stanley Lions wish to acknowledge all those who supported these efforts in any way and all those who came and made purchases of whatever was being offered for sale. It will now be possible for the local Lions to continue their support of community betterment in the rest of 2020 and 2021. Please know that the Lions thank and appreciate the community’s support. And if anyone would be interested in joining the local 32 members who carry on the Lions proud traditions, please talk to any Lion and they can help you get signed up.

Kids Day, $500 donated to the Stanley- Boyd Food Pantry for Christmas hams, $300 donated to the Stanley Correctional Institution to