Lions Gov. Garner speaks to Lions Club

The Canton Lions Club met Sept. 9, at the Van Zandt Country Club. The members were pleased to host current District 2-X2 Governor Chet Garner from Kilgore. He presented the goals for his term as governor. Due to the pandemic, many of the clubs in the district either are not meeting, losing members or are disbanding. So, his goals are that each club in the district sign up one new member and to retain the members in the club. The Canton club is the largest in the district, with 99 members, and has remained active during COVID. Also, at the end of the meeting, members celebrated with service chairperson Debra Wood and Eyeglass Collection Coordinator Benja Mize. The goal for the September service project was to collect 50 pairs of used eyeglasses. Thanks to Lions, community members, and local optometrist, Dr. Debra Dewart, 200 pairs have been collected. These used eyeglasses are refurbished and sent around the world. Anyone who has old eyeglasses around the home and would like to contribute to this effort can turn them in to Lions club members or drop in boxes placed around the community. This project dates back to the 1920s when Helen Keller named Lions “Knights of the Blind.”