GRAVETTE -- Members of the Gravette Lions Club have been active in several projects in their first year of existence. The club was chartered on June 30, 2013, and is still a small group, but already it has contributed much to the city of Gravette.
Providing for eye tests and glasses and sometimes for treatment, especially for children, has long been a major project for Lions Clubs and the Gravette club is no exception. On Jan. 25, children enrolled at the Imagine Before and After School Care Center received free eye screenings. Six people received the free eye tests at the club's booth on Gravette Day. Several individuals have received eye exams and glasses through the club and another person was approved for this help at the last meeting. Receptacles are located at Austin Drug, Teasley Drug, Arvest Bank and Bank of Gravett where eyeglasses are collected for recycling.
Gravette Lions Club was an important part of the Gravette Day celebration as Lions president Byron Warren and vice-president Ron Theis stayed up all night Friday smoking chickens for the annual event. Tyson Foods donated chickens and the club sold dinners, including the smoked chickens, baked beans, chips and bread. $682.85 was raised for projects that will benefit the community, and 65 chicken dinners were donated to the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center for the Meals on Wheels program. The Lions also provided some entertainment for the day as they arranged for the Sophisticated Ladies of Bella Vista to come and perform three dance numbers. Their performance was a big hit.
The Lions Club is partnering with the art department at Gravette High School in a project to create a mural display on the front wall at the Mid-Continent Concrete plant. The Lions, with the help of donations from Arvest Bank, Teasley Drug, Mid-Continent Concrete, Ken Foxx & Associates and the Kiwanis Club, have bought materials for the mural to honor local and area heroes and historical figures. Art students will do the painting for the project.
Club members cleaned up the flower bed at the intersection of highways 72 and 59 one Saturday to help beautify the area for passing motorists. They also helped collect food last fall for the Share the Harvest ministry at Harvest Baptist Church.
Gravette Lions Club meetings are held at the Billy V. Hall Senior Wellness and Activity Center at 1050 Limekiln Road. Beginning in September the club will hold one daytime meeting and one evening meeting in an effort to accommodate the time schedules of all members. Meetings will be held at 1 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month and at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Lunch will be available at the daytime meeting and coffee and cookies will be provided at the evening meeting.
New members are being actively sought and the club has issued an invitation to all prospective members and anyone else interested to attend the meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, when guest speakers will discuss the pros and cons of the proposed tax increase to support a new elementary school in Bella Vista.
Community on 08/27/2014