THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502150158
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBORAH OAKEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Members of the Deep Creek Lions Club will observe the club's 25th anniversary Feb. 20 with a dinner at Sunset Manor restaurant on South Military Highway.
The club, founded in 1970, is best known for providing financial assistance for corneal surgeries and for furnishing eyeglasses and hearing aids to individuals with seeing and hearing impairments who need them but are otherwise unable to afford them.
Funds for these and other projects comes through the Lions' annual ``White Cane'' sales, broom sales and barbecue sales. The club has raised more than $250,000 and has helped more than 3,000 people.
Harold Bickle, the club's first vice president, said the work is rewarding.
``I was standing outside a store during one of the White Cane sales, when this lady who didn't look like she could afford to spare a nickel came up to me and gave $5,'' Bickle said. ``She said she'd give more if she could because the Lions Club made it possible for her to see her grandkids for the first time.''
Bickle pointed to his chest and said, ``It touched me right here.''
New picnic shelters at Treakle Elementary School and Deep Creek Intermediate School were built by Lions Club members with their own hands.
``The kids couldn't go outside to eat and play during lunch without having to worry about seagulls getting their food,'' said Tom Rapier, member since 1975 and owner of the Sunset Manor Restaurant, where the club holds its semi-monthly meetings.
The Lions also work with the Deep Creek Girls Club to make Easter egg cakes to sell as a fund-raiser.
The Deep Creek club is part of The Association of Lions Clubs, which has a membership of 1 1/2 million people in 170 countries.
Information about the Deep Creek Lions Club is available by calling Tom Rapier at 487-0611 or 487-7701. by CNB