The Plainview Bethpage Lions Club members wish our local communities a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Our December holiday food drive was supported by Plainview and Bethpage schools, with students from Bethpage High School helping to sort and pack the boxes of food. Our Lion members and their families dropped off these boxes and frozen turkeys for our needy families in the communities.

Food was also given to the Center for Disabilities in Woodbury, Harvest Inn, Lady of Laredo Church, Haitian community in Brentwood, and the Jewish Veterans Association. Many thanks to all who participated and to the people of the community who were so generous with their food donations.

Amanda Patti, Bethpage JFK Middle School winner of the International Lions Club Peace Poster Contest, moved on to win the District 20K2 contest.

The state contest was won by a student from upstate New York, but we are very proud of Amanda and her beautiful poster. Her District award will be presented at the Open Cabinet meeting on Jan. 28.

Lions launched a SightFirst campaign as an aggressive attack on the rising tide of blindness around the world. Forty million people are blind, yet 80 percent of all blindness is preventable or reversible. SightFirst works to close the gap between existing health care services and those that are needed. Topping more than $140 million in funds raised through a major three-year fundraising drive, Lions have initiated SightFirst programs in more than forty countries on five continents. Lions have joined with governments, ophthalmic professionals and other organizations to help established long-term solutions in health care infrastructure, training of health care professionals, treatment and public education.

Local Lions Clubs in District 20K2 are active participants in SightFirst, and have pledged thousands of dollars to this endeavor.

Plainview Bethpage Lions will attend an on-campus talk and tour program on Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. in Smithtown. Families and friends are invited to join us. We hope to obtain current information about our sponsored Guide Dog "Page" who is still in training.

We are looking for new members who wish to volunteer their time and talents toward helping our communities. For information about our club call Lois (921-6867) or Steve (293-7534).