For a long time to come, 2020 will likely be synonymous with uncertainty, divisiveness, restriction and protection. And, oh my goodness, the numbers. There has been no escaping the numbers. But, in spite of all that we have seen and heard over the past year, one thing is still crystal-clear. People matter. Our families, friends and neighbors matter. Our communities matter.
The Apex Lions Club serves many people in many ways, but assistance for the blind and visually impaired has been their consistent mission for decades. And like other civic organizations in our area, the Apex Lions have improvised and continued to serve, even during dark times.
Providing Pandemic Assistance
In the closing days of October, Apex Lions Club President Paul Dean and First Vice-President Carl Cromwell shared with me how, despite the societal changes that have taken place, the club is living up to its name: LIONS are Loving Individuals Offering Needed Services.
Cromwell illustrated the struggle quite succinctly. “If it was normal times, this would be the busiest time of the year for us. We’d be at the NC State Fair for our major fundraiser of the year. In November, we’d be having our banquet and mini convention to celebrate what we’ve done the past year and start laying out plans for the following year. This year we did none of our fundraisers. Absolutely none.”
“Our first fundraiser is in March—the fish fry. That was when [the pandemic] started. That was cancelled and we have not held an in-person meeting since February. The only thing we’ve been doing is by Zoom. We don’t have the capability of doing too much other than trying to keep people’s spirits up and help however we can on an individual basis.”
Yet, on the heels of having cancelled their fish fry fundraising event, the Club stepped in to help Western Wake Crisis Ministry. Dean said, “The thing we’ve been doing regularly and continuously is partnering with Western Wake Crisis Ministry in doing food collection. That’s been more of an immediate and ongoing need and we participate with them in whatever way we can.”
Cromwell added, “As soon as we knew the effect [the pandemic] was going to have, the first thing we did was appropriate some money to Western Wake Crisis Ministry. We started reaching out to see how else we could help and that started food collection and distribution and lining up trailers. We coordinated with the Fuquay-Varina Lions and the food pantry there, and with Holly Springs, to do a food collection drive in September.”
The Apex Lions actually assisted with several food drives. One in August, two in September (including the massive multi-community effort mentioned by Cromwell), and another in October. At the time we spoke, they were poised and ready with people, funds, and a refrigerated trailer to help in November and December, and hopeful that enough food would be donated to Western Wake Crisis Ministry to give the Club volunteers plenty to do to help. Beyond that, the Club’s calendar of events is quiet, for now.
Who Are the Apex Lions?
If you are not familiar with the Apex Lions Club, you must check out their website: apexlions.org. It’s robust, cleanly organized, and answers just about any question you might have about what Lions do and how they do it. Here’s a quick summary to pique your interest. (Keep in mind that these activities are representative of a non-COVID-19 year.)
They have two annual fundraisers. The first is the fish fry in March, the proceeds of which are typically given to one or two special recipients. In recent years, the Club purchased prosthetic eyes for two little girls who had each lost an eye to cancer. The Club’s primary fundraiser is their concessions booth at the North Carolina State Fair every October. The booth, best-known for its pie, has been a State Fair staple since 1943 and generates the bulk of the Club’s monies. Other funds come in through membership dues, contributions made by businesses and individuals in our community, and a newly formed tax-exempt Apex Lions Charitable Fund.
The Club, in turn, conducts free vision screenings at events like Apex PeakFest, Apex Night Out, and the Apex Senior Fair. They provide financial assistance to applicants needing eye exams and eyeglasses. They mentor a local Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack. They fund scholarships for Apex high school seniors. And they support Citizens Assisting Police in Apex (CAPA), the Apex Police Department’s participation in Special Olympics, and the Apex Fire Department’s involvement with local schools.
At the State level, the Apex Lions Club serves Camp Dogwood, Brighter Visions, VIP Fishing Tournament, the Governor Morehead School for the Blind, and other programs for the blind and visually impaired, with resources of money and volunteers.
With societal expectations now including social distancing, mask wearing, and specific cleaning protocols, it is understandable that the Apex Lions Club calendar is a bit shy of events right now. Cromwell remarked that coordination for the annual fish fry begins in January, but not knowing what conditions will be like in the short-term, let alone months from now, makes planning difficult. “Do we start contracting for the fish to fry…and for the building we rent? Can we have people in the building, or only take-out? Most of our [event] is eat-in.”
New Ideas for New Connections
Certainly, there are questions. However, with a few newly inducted Lions come a few new ideas, including the Apex Community Leo Club. Leo Clubs are youth organizations sponsored by the local Lions Club to promote leadership and community service at the high school level. At Panther Creek High School, for example, the Leo Club has coordinated blood drives, car washes, roadside cleanups, and other projects under the guidance of the Apex Lions Club. The Apex Community Leo Club is a new initiative not associated with area high schools.
“It’s in an exploratory, brainstorming form right now,” Dean explained, “to evaluate what [members] want to do and see that it’s safely implemented. There are a lot of things we just don’t know in terms of how much interaction can they have. Even collecting food, is there a risk? Are they willing to take that risk?”
Cromwell went on to say, “[The Apex Community Leo Club] is just getting off the ground for youth that want to get involved, to serve the Apex community. One of our thoughts is to let the youth develop their own ideas of how best to serve the community rather than us telling them. They have a totally different perspective of the needs, than what you and I do.”
Another strategy for the Apex Lions is one that may seem easily taken for granted. Connecting with the public. Dean and Cromwell agreed that this is where the Leo Clubs can make a huge impact. “We have ideas for improving the brand of our club,” Dean said, “to get more members aware, and this generation of Leos might have some ideas. The least we can try to do is get people to go to our charitable fund link and click. We’re trying to find a way to plant the seed in [our Leos] to do a social media campaign via some materials we give them, to encourage members of the community to donate.”
With social media a valuable tool for engaging with the public, the Apex Lions plan to use their Facebook platform heavily when announcing resuming or new events. They hope Apex readers will stay tuned in and up to date by following and liking their Facebook page. If you have a specific question, you can email info@apexlions.org and a Lion will respond within 24 hours.
What Can You Do Today?
There are some ongoing activities that involve minimal community engagement or contact. One is student scholarships. Once the high schools are back in session after winter break, seniors should begin thinking about applying for the Lions Club scholarships. Another is financial assistance for people who need vision exams and eyeglasses. Downloadable applications can be found on the Apex Lions Club website (apexlions.org).
Also, if you find yourself in possession of old prescription eyeglasses you can no longer wear, don’t toss them. The Lions collect used eyeglasses. The next time you’re in Target at Beaver Creek, Walmart on the Apex Peakway, or any of a number of Apex vision centers and optometrist offices, look for the distinct blue and yellow collection box. Donated eyeglasses are sent to a regional Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center and cleaned, sorted by prescription, packaged and distributed to people who need them. For a list of collection points around Apex, visit apexlions.org.
And finally, and simply, make a monetary donation. Every little bit helps. If a Lions initiative speaks to you, you can specify where you would prefer your contribution go and the Club will do their best to consider your preference.
“We Continue to Serve”
When I asked Paul Dean and Carl Cromwell about their message to Apex readers, Dean said, “Our tag line in everything is: We Serve!” He added, “And we continue to serve. Since I’ve become [Club] president, I’m trying to get more of the Apex public to connect with us and let them know they can make a difference to the community. The challenge is getting them to know we’re here.”
Cromwell reminded me that, “LIONS are Loving Individuals Offering Needed Services. We’ve been in Apex since 1935. The people in the Apex area today may need more help than they have needed in the past several years. If you want to make a difference, contact us either by joining us and doing community service, or making a contribution for the projects we support.”
He also pointed out, “During this time period we’re in, people are putting off taking care of their health, whether it’s dental exams, eye exams or their annual physicals, but now is not the time to do that. We want people to take care of themselves and give back to their community, and one way to give back is to get involved in Lions Clubs or other civic-minded organizations.”
Get in Touch—Stay in Touch
To learn more about the Apex Lions and their projects and initiatives, to request assistance, or to download membership and scholarship applications, visit apexlions.org. If you have a high school student who is interested in community service and would like more information about the Apex Community Leo Club, follow Apex Lions Club on Facebook.
With the status of Apex Lions Club events remaining fluid, check the website and Facebook page often. Details about long-awaited activities will be posted after 2020 has come to a close. As we welcome 2021, let’s look ahead knowing what truly matters.
