Grand Island Lions hold successful white cane day fundraiser

By Lion Tom Witkowski

Treasurer, Marketing Co-Chair

Grand Island Lions Club

Over a two-day period this past weekend, the Grand Island Lions "hit the road" and were the smiling faces greeting everyone at the Grand Island Tops. Volunteers held out their oversized white canes for donations in one of our annual fundraisers.

Invented in England in 1921, Lions Clubs International introduced the concept of the white cane into the U.S. in 1930 when a Lions Club member saw a blind man attempting to cross a busy street with a black cane.

The proceeds from the White Cane Day fundraiser have provided nearly $90,000 in funding over the past 10 years alone for numerous causes and needs in the Grand Island community, as well as humanitarian projects throughout the world. Scholarships to uniquely qualified students, the 60-year-old-plus annual Kids Picnic, the playgrounds at Sidway Elementary and Miracle League Field, and the counseling and playroom at the Family Justice Center are a few of the nearly 40 charities benefiting from the largess of the Grand Island community.

Shown in the photo are Lions Jose Garcia and Annie Carlson, newest members of the Grand Island club, holding the unique white canes used in the drive.

With deepest appreciation, we thank all who contributed.

The needs are ever-present. By visiting our website, www.gilions.com, or our Facebook page at Grand Island (NY) Lions Club (https://www.facebook.com/groups/308831672464154), you can make donations via Venmo that will help our community and the world become better places to live and work in.

Additionally, you can also use those sites to learn of the value of membership opportunities as a Lion. We have a world awaiting your desire to serve.