Riverside Township Lions Club to hold Candy Days

RIVERSIDE – The Riverside Township Lions Club will join Lions Clubs from around the state Oct. 11 and 12 to raise funds to support those who are blind, visually impaired, deaf or hearing impaired.

On Candy Days, the Riverside Township Lions and volunteers give away candy and accept donations on street corners and in shopping areas and other public areas in Riverside and North Riverside, according to a club news release.

Candy Days have been in existence since 1952, the release stated. Lions throughout the state join forces to raise funds, which are used either locally or statewide.

The statewide projects are administered through the charitable arm of the state’s more than 700 Lions Clubs. These programs include hearing screenings for children and adults, used eyeglasses collections, vision screenings and Camp Lions for visually or hearing-impaired children and adults, according to the release.

Locally, donations are given to groups such as People Care and the Riverside Township Food Pantry, as well as the Riverside and North Riverside public libraries to purchase materials for hearing-impaired and visually impaired patrons, the release stated. Financial support also is provided to a number of activities affiliated with Lions Clubs International, as well as to local eye care and ear care efforts.

Other west suburban organizations selected to receive donations this year include Pillars Community Health, Helping Hand Center, Seguin Services Inc. and Aging Care Connections, according to the release.

In addition, donations were given this year to the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, Second Sense, Hadley School for the Blind, Chicago Hearing Society, Eversight, the Fisher House at Hines VA Hospital, Dogs for the Deaf and Live Out Loud, the release stated.

The Riverside Township Lions Club was founded in 1948, and it meets monthly. To learn more or get involved with the club, visit e-clubhouse.org/sites/riversidetownship.