I recently spent a Saturday morning sorting through thousands of old eyeglasses.
Why, you might ask, did I sacrifice a day off for such a task?
I was among approximately 40 Lions Club International members from chapters across the St. Louis area, including at least two chapters from Jefferson County, who gathered at the Wildwood Community Park to inspect glasses that had been donated to help those in need. We worked to recycle the broken ones and carefully pack the good ones.
The morning also included joking around about the unique Coke bottle glasses we dug up, munching on Krispy Kreme doughnuts and planning our next service project.
While the eyeglass sorting wasn’t something I typically would plan for my day off, I couldn’t help but feel so accomplished by the end of the morning. Fellow Lions members and I had sifted through the eyeglasses for a good cause; Missourians in need will use the glasses and have a better quality of life.
There’s no better way to spend your time, I think, than by helping others.
As a reporter for the Leader, I spend 40-plus hours a week writing about the good – and sometimes not-so-good – that happens in the county. It’s fulfilling to contribute and be part of “the good” for the Lions.
My decision to join the Lions came from taking a step back and analyzing my daily routine. It essentially boiled down to typical couch-potato behavior – eating, sleeping, working, surfing the web and then rinsing and repeating. I realized doomscrolling on social media for hours on end after I got off work was an unproductive way to spend my time, but I continued to do it. I didn’t like how much time I was spending absorbed by my phone, and I didn’t like how isolated I was beginning to feel because of it.
Did you know loneliness is becoming an epidemic in this country? One in two American adults reported experiencing loneliness in recent years, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Did you also know that loneliness can kill you? When I read that social isolation can increase the risk of premature death by 29 percent, I knew I needed to make a change in my life. I can’t get the feeling of accomplishment from my smartphone that I can get from my participation with the Lions organization, and I believe it’s time for more folks to realize the same.
I’ve found that joining a service-based organization – the Lions, Optimist International, the Rotary Club, the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the Elks, etc. – can be a fulfilling use of time. And it just so happens that these organizations desperately need members.
I’m fortunate that my Lions Club has other young and spry members who can work with me on projects, but it is certainly the outlier in our area. I frequently write about service organizations in the county that bemoan their aging membership, lack of participation and lack of funding. The biggest complaint is they want to do things in and for the community, but they can’t because their membership just isn’t getting around like they used to.
Like many other organizations, membership in the Lions Club didn’t decline overnight. According to a 2020 article in Lion Magazine, a club publication, the organization has seen a steady decline in North American membership since the 1980s.
I fear my generation, the Gen Zs of the world, are continuing that trend and fumbling the baton; it’s up to the 20- and 30-somethings to step up into leadership positions within these organizations if they want to see community service continue.
I believe service organizations also could help increase membership by making themselves more appealing to younger people. Using social media for outreach is a big one. Also, ditching the good ol’ boys club or the “you can’t sit with us” attitude and adopting a more welcoming atmosphere is a start.
I acknowledge that joining a service organization isn’t possible for everyone. The annual membership fee might be more than one can afford; the meeting times might not work with one’s over-crowded schedule; one might not jibe with the club’s leaders.
The key, however, is to put in the effort to find the right organization for you. Once you do, you’ll be rewarded with a new community that cares not only for people in need but also for you.
I chose the Lions because it’s a non-denominational, apolitical organization. I didn’t want all that political fuss in my service organization. I get enough of that already on social media. That doesn’t mean, though, that a religious or politically-minded group is not right for you.
When looking for a group to join, the choice can be made a little bit easier by taking a look at what each organization champions. For Lions, it’s eyecare. The VFW champions military service and helping veterans. The Rotary Club has led the charge to eradicate polio. At the end of a day of service for whichever organization you join, you’ll become more empathetic and more cognizant of the needs of your neighbors.
So, I will finish this column with a call to action: Young people, step up! Help your community by joining a service organization, or even just volunteering your time for a weekend. Sweat equity is what these clubs need – young, able-bodied and able-minded people to help their cause.
It’s time to put down the phone and pick up a pair of Coke bottle glasses from the 1960s, as I did. It’s time to prove our generation can pick up the baton and carry on these organization’s missions. Join today!