Geneva Lions Club – Regular Activities

Luncheon Meetings

The Geneva Lions Club typically meets twice monthly on Mondays at 12:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church located at 320 Franklin Street in historic downtown Geneva. The Club conducts business meetings after lunch and often has guest speakers on non-business meeting days.

Eye Glasses and Eye Exam Program

The Geneva Lions Club conducts a program to provide eye exams and/or new eyeglasses for needy persons living in Geneva or St. Charles that have been referred to us by social service agencies or school nurses.

The social service agency or school nurse screens the applicant, both for vision need and financial need. Individuals seeking such assistance should not contact our club directly, but rather contact a social service agency, such as the Salvation Army, Lazarus House, Carroll Towers, the St. Vincent De Paul Society, or Tri-City Health Partners, all of St. Charles. For Students, contact the school nurse in the Geneva or St. Charles school system. For questions about this program, contact Lion Bill Minderman.

Recycling – Eyeglasses

The Geneva Lions Club collects unwanted to be recycled. The eyeglasses are used by needy persons in third-world countries. The donated eyeglasses are cleaned, sorted by prescription and prepared for distribution by the Lions Foundation of Illinois and other groups. We have placed recycling collection boxes in numerous convenient drop-off locations in Geneva and St. Charles. 

Click here to view the names and locations of the establishments where those boxes are located. For questions, contact Lion Rich Muir.

Recycling – Hearing Aids, Cell Phones, Small Ink Cartigridges, and Keys

Hearing aids collected in the community are sent to the Lions Foundation of Illinois which refurbishes them in conjunction with an audiologist. Persons looking to donate hearing aids may drop them off in any of the Lions Club eyeglass recycling boxes located in Geneva and St. Charles. Other items that can be recycled in the collection boxes include cellphones, small ink cartridges and keys

Click here to view the names and locations of the establishments where those boxes are located. For questions, contact Lion Rich Muir.

Annual Activities

Diabetes Awareness Day (Spring)

Club members solicit donations from the public at various locations around the community. They also distribute information about diabetes and blindness associated with this disease. All proceeds go to the American Diabetes Association.

Swedish Days Bratwurst and Shaved Ice Booth (Summer)

Geneva Lions offer this booth during Geneva’s annual Swedish Days Festival. This is the Club’s largest single fundraising activity. Members volunteer to cook and serve food and drinks at the stand. We enjoy working with each other and serving the public while providing funding for worthy causes. For questions, contact Lion Jim Kafer.

“Chance For Sight” Raffle (Summer) 

Club members sell raffle tickets to raise money to benefit persons with sight and hearing impairments. The drawing takes place on the last day of Swedish Days. For more information, please contact Lion Bill Minderman.

Candy Days (Fall)

Club members solicit donations from the public at various locations around the community. All proceeds go to the Lions Foundation of Illinois and a variety of local causes including Camp Lions, Ski for Sight, and the purchase of new eye exam equipment.

Pancake Breakfast (Winter)

Each December, the Geneva Lions Club hosts the Pancake Breakfast at the Geneva High School. Activities include an opportunity to meet with Santa Claus, pancake decorating station, and a live musical performance by select GHS Band, Choir, and Orchestra members. For ticket information or information on how to sponsor the event, please contact Lion Ricky Heidgerken.