For nearly six decades, the Seaford Lions Club has served the local community in a number of ways.
The organization, which co-chairs the annual Seaford Community Blood Drive, awards graduating seniors from Seaford High School with four $2,000 dollar scholarships each year annually, sponsors guide dogs and supports local Boy Scout troops, will be marking its 60th anniversary in January.
Seaford Lions Club president Charles Wroblewski said that the organization was one of the founding members of the Long Island Eye Bank at North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital in Manhasset, a major factor that led to his involvement with the group.
“My mother was having eye issues and actually then underwent corneal transplants in both eyes,” Wroblewski explained. "The Lions Club was able to recommend his mother to who he says were some of the best doctors. It was just my way of giving back to the community by joining the Lions Club, because they facilitated my mother’s being able to function."
The eye bank is not the only charitable program that the Lions Club is active with. Each year they sponsor a child to attend a local diabetic camp where they learn about the disease and how to prevent complications associated with diabetes. Additionally, in 2010, the club was able to arrange for a guide dog to be assigned to a local Seaford man who needed the assistance.
During the holidays, the Seaford Lions Club also assists local outreach programs that provide food and other necessities to needy families.
As a tax exempt charity in compliance with the Internal Revenue Service regulations, the Seaford chapter became a chartered member of the Lions Club in January of 1952, and spends monies locally to help those that are in need. The club meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. at Runyon's on 3928 Merrick Rd. for dinner and Wroblewski says that to become involved people “just have to come.”
Contact information for Wroblewski and the rest of the Lions Club is available online at the group's website. When asked why people should consider joining the club, Wroblewski said, “I think it gives you a sense of purpose and just the great feeling of knowing that you’re out there helping other people."
