The Loveland Lions Club got its start back in 1920, and ever since its members have been serving the local community through charitable initiatives and service projects.
On Tuesday, members of the group appeared at Loveland City Council for a belated proclamation in honor of the club’s 100th anniversary that recognized its low-cost eye exam programs and its decades of operating the city’s Buckhorn Northern Railroad at North Lake Park.
“I personally want to thank you for all the service that you give and have given for 100 years,” Mayor Jacki Marsh, a Lions Club member, said afterwards. “I appreciate the club that serves.”
For Lions Club District President Scott Hayward, the city of Loveland also deserves recognition for its support for the club over the years, especially when it comes to the Buckhorn Northern Railroad. In 2019, the train marked its millionth rider, and during the recent Fourth of July celebration, served 880 passengers, a single day record.
“All the years that I’ve been around the Lions Club and train, I’ve never seen that many people in the park as there were that day,” he said. “There were literally thousands there at the park. And at any given time, from three o’clock on that afternoon, we had 100 people standing in line with tickets bought to ride the train with their kids.”
The club has been operating the train on a voluntary basis since 1988, donating more than 2,000 hours per year to the service.
Loveland Parks and Recreation provides winter maintenance on the cars and tracks, an invaluable service, Hayward continued.
“They’ve been super good to work with — Dan Willadsen and Elizabeth Kayl in the Parks and Recreation department,” he said. “I just can’t say enough about the Parks and Recreation department.”
Besides the train, the Loveland Lions Club has also spearheaded initiatives to provide low-cost eye glasses and eye care to local residents, a need that has been growing since the pandemic, according to Hayward. He urged those who can to drop their used eyeglasses in one of the club’s donation boxes at Loveland’s Jax stores.
Loveland Lions Clubs also supports other nonprofit and service organizations in Loveland, including House of Neighborly Service and provides college scholarships to local graduating seniors.
To help support these programs, the Lions Club holds a number of fundraising events throughout the year, including the semi-annual Timber Dan antique toy show and sale at The Ranch Events Complex.
The group is now gearing up for the Larimer County Fair, coming to The Ranch Events Complex Aug. 5-9. The club is scheduled to march in the kick-off parade through downtown Loveland on July 30, and then host the pancake breakfast on Aug. 7, a beloved annual tradition that feeds more than a thousand hungry fair participants and volunteers, according to longtime member Dennis Soucek.
Hayward said that the Loveland Lions Club is always in need of volunteers and new members, and urged anyone interested in joining one of the oldest and largest service organizations in the world to drop by a Wednesday meeting for a free lunch or visit the website for more information on membership.
Information on the Lions Club’s eye care programs, and applications for assistance with eye exams or eye glasses are also available online.
