For over 50 years, Lions clubs have supported the partnership of INOVA hospital and the Lions Eye Clinic – Northern Virginia’s only free clinic offering advanced eye care and surgery to uninsured adults. It is a vital community resource, providing essential medical and surgical eye care to those with incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Eye Clinic web page: https://www.inova.org/locations/inova-lions-eye-clinic

The Clinic’s mission is to provide basic eye care to people who could not afford care, and the clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. It provides services for indigent individuals only. Family assistance workers in the Fairfax County Health Department determine an individual’s indigent status. Individuals, who have no medical insurance coverage, meet certain income standards based on the number of dependents, and are classified as coming under the Income “A” category may qualify as indigent. Referrals to the Clinic are made by the Fairfax County Health Department, Arlington County Health Department, Arlington Free Clinic, Baileys Crossroads Health Clinic, Alexandria Casey Clinic, South County Health Clinic, and doctors. 

At the Fairfax Lions Club meeting on January 21st, representatives of the the INOVA Lions Eye Clinic talked about recent renovations in the Clinic, and the wonderful record of serving people in our community.

For 37 years, Lions Clubs around the world have encouraged youth (age 11-13) to create art posters reflecting peace.  Those children everywhere have the chance to express their visions of peace and inspire the world through art and creativity. For 2025, over 600,000 peace posters were created.

This year’s Peace Poster contest theme was “Peace without Limits.” Congratulations to Aasini Kumar, of Rocky Run Middle School, for winning the Fairfax Lions Club Peace Poster Contest and cash awards. In addition, Aasini’s poster will be featured in this year’s program on March 13th for Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County

One of the core missions of Lions Clubs around the world is to support “The Gift of Sight.” In our Fairfax community, Life Scout Tyler Shin gave his time and energy to this mission. For his Eagle Scout project, Tyler collected 700 pairs of eyeglasses .  The eyeglasses Tyler collected will go with eyeglasses collected by Lions Clubs, to the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center.  

Volunteers at the recycling center clean, polish, classify, sort, and box the donated eyeglasses. They are then distributed free-of-charge to needy individuals around the world – typically via medical mission teams (with the assistance of an optometrist on the team or at the distant location).

Fairfax Lions Club thanks and congratulates Scout Tyler Shin for his valuable service project!

Each year, Lions Clubs across Virginia hold music competitions (the “James Bland Youth Music Contest”) for elementary, middle or senior high school (or home schooled) students. Top performers (both vocal and instrumental) receive scholarships.

Fairfax Lions Club’s competition begins at 2pm, Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Providence Presbyterian Church, 9019 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA. Best performers progress to higher level competitions.

Please submit your registration form (attached) not later than January 31st.

Samples of last year’s performances: https://www.fairfaxlions.org/?s=bland+contest

Let family, friends, and neighbors know, and encourage young musicians to sign up!

May we be happy, may we be well, may we be blessed, and may we all be loved.  May our nation be strong and prosperous, and lead the world in meaningful actions enabling peace and stability for all.  May our Lions Club excel in providing important services to those in need.

After the December fruit sale, Fairfax Lions and guests joined for a holiday meal, cheerful camaraderie, and door prizes at the Chantilly Country Club. Not all Lion members could be there, but those present had a very nice time. The Lions mission is service, but we have a good time too!