Initiatives

The Eagle River Alaska Lions Club supports local youth and schools through a variety of programs focusing on health, education, and recreation. 

Key initiatives include:

  • Vision and Hearing Screenings: Lions members coordinate with local elementary and middle schools to provide free vision and hearing screenings for students. Early detection of vision impairments in children allows for timely treatment and can prevent conditions from worsening.

  • Scholarships: The club (including the Sleeping Lady Mountain Lions club which is also in the area) awards scholarships to local high school students to help them pursue higher education.

  • Recreation Programs: The club supports local youth sports by maintaining the community park facilities, including fields used by Pop Warner football and Little League baseball and girl's softball teams.

  • Youth Development Programs: They support international Lions programs that foster youth development, such as the Leo Program, which provides personal growth opportunities through volunteering, and the Peace Poster Contest, which encourages creativity and expression of peace among young people. They also promote Lions Quest, a social-emotional learning curriculum implemented in some Anchorage schools that teaches valuable life skills and helps prevent bullying and substance abuse.

  • Basic Needs Support: The club has participated in efforts to provide essential items to students in need, such as school supplies (backpacks, pens, paper) and warm clothing for winter.

  • Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation:They support local facilities, such as the ARCH Home, which provides rehabilitation services for youths

Service Projects

The Eagle River Lions Club and the local Sleeping Lady Mountain Lions Club conduct various community service projects, focusing on vision care, youth support, senior assistance, and local amenities. 

Key service projects include:

Vision Services

  • Youth Vision Screening: Club members coordinate with local elementary schools and health fairs to provide free vision screenings for children, helping to identify potential issues early.

  • Vision Assistance: The clubs offer financial assistance for eye exams and glasses to low-income individuals in the community.

  • Eyeglass Collection: They collect and recycle used eyeglasses for distribution to those in need worldwide. 

Youth and Family Support

  • Support for ARCH Home: They provide ongoing support to the Adolescent Residential Center for Help (ARCH), a local youth drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility, through holiday dinners, Christmas gifts, and other miscellaneous needs.

  • "Tree of Giving" Project: Held in December, this project provides meals to numerous families in the area for the holidays.

  • Scholarships: The Lions raise funds to provide scholarships for local high school students seeking to attend college.

  • School Backpack Programs: They help provide weekend food supplies to students from food-insecure homes. 

Community and Senior Services

  • Lions Park Maintenance: The club is responsible for the upkeep and operation of the Eagle River Lions Park, which includes tennis and pickleball courts, football fields, baseball fields, basketball courts, and horseshoe pits.

  • Lions Dog Park: They maintain a local dog park, ensuring it remains clean and stocked with pet waste bags.

  • Senior Center Support: Members staff a monthly bingo game and provide treats at the Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center.

  • Community Clean-ups: They organize and participate in local environmental restoration and community clean-up initiatives.

  • Disaster Relief: They collect and distribute essential supplies like clothing, hygiene products, and non-perishable food items following natural disasters or community crises.