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Maryville Lions Club
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A Clear Vision for 2026: Reengage. Communicate. Invite. Serve.

  • Feb 19
  • 4 min read

Since 1938, the Maryville Lions Club has quietly and faithfully served Blount County.


We’ve screened children’s vision.

We’ve collected and recycled thousands of eyeglasses.

We’ve helped seniors regain independence.

We’ve partnered with schools, churches, and service agencies.


And through it all, we have lived our motto: “We Serve.”


But 2026 is not just another year on the calendar. It is a year of intentional renewal.


Our 2026 Umbrella Theme:


“Vision in Action: Connecting Community. Changing Lives.”


This theme captures what we believe 2026 must be about — not just seeing clearly, but acting clearly. Not just serving quietly, but connecting boldly.


It reflects our alignment with the global mission of Lions Clubs International:

To empower Lions clubs, volunteers and partners to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities and support those in need through humanitarian service…

In Blount County, that mission comes into focus through one powerful word: vision.


Why 2026 Matters


Like many long-standing service organizations, our club has experienced a period of transition. Our members never stopped serving — in fact, our pace of child vision screenings, eyeglass collection, and facilitating access to eye care has reached record levels.


But while we were serving, we were not always communicating.


Meanwhile, the need has grown as our community has grown.

  • More children need screening for undetected vision issues that may limit their ability to learn.

  • More seniors face isolation and loss of independence due to vision decline.

  • More families delay care because of cost or access barriers.


The need is real — and it is local.


In late 2025, we made a decision: We will reengage. We will communicate. We will invite. And we will serve with renewed clarity.


Our Four Commitments for 2026



1. Reengage


We are rebuilding and strengthening relationships across Blount County — with businesses, charitable organizations, churches, schools, and youth.


In February, we joined the Blount County Chamber of Commerce because we believe business leaders care deeply about their community — and partnership amplifies impact.


We are also intentionally engaging younger generations seeking meaning, purpose, and connection. Today’s young professionals and students have deep empathy for people and the environment. The Lions Club offers something rare:

A place to turn compassion into action — alongside mentors and neighbors.


2. Communicate


In late 2025, we relaunched our online presence at maryvillelions.org and renewed our Facebook page.


That was not about marketing for the sake of marketing.


It was about transparency. It was about awareness. It was about helping the community understand:

  • What needs exist

  • What work is happening

  • How people can be part of it


We will consistently share stories, updates, and impact — not to boast, but to build understanding and trust.


3. Invite


We are not interested in high-pressure membership drives.

But we are interested in being direct.


If you care about:

  • Helping children succeed in school

  • Supporting seniors’ independence

  • Strengthening Blount County

  • Being part of a respected, service-driven organization


There is a place for you here.


The Lions Club offers more than volunteer hours. It offers:

  • Meaningful relationships

  • Leadership development

  • Intergenerational mentorship

  • The satisfaction that comes from tangible impact


Service doesn’t just help others. It strengthens the person who serves.


4. Service


Everything we are doing in 2026 is built on the foundation of continued service.


Every month, we will:

  • Conduct scheduled vision screenings

  • Collect recycled eyeglasses and hearing aids

  • Support plastic recycling projects that benefit children’s hospitals

  • Host educational guest speakers


Throughout the year, we will participate in:

  • District 12N service events

  • Special Olympics partnerships with the Parks and Rec

  • Remote Area Medical Events

  • Environmental and community clean-up initiatives

  • Participate in events with the BLount County Boys & Girls Club and the Martin Luther King Center

  • Our signature OTTO “Oldies to the Oldies” Cruisin’ Event in the Spring and Fall

  • Street Outreach Service Days (SOS) through “A Place to Stay" quarterly events


And we will continue recognizing leaders through initiatives like the Look of the Leader Award.


The Lions year runs July through June — and we encourage you to check our Upcoming Events page regularly for updates.


A Club for This Moment


Blount County is growing. Needs are evolving. Younger generations are searching for authentic connections. Businesses are seeking meaningful ways to give back.


The Maryville Lions Club is uniquely positioned to bring all of that together.

We are not reinventing who we are. We are returning to our roots — with renewed clarity and energy.


Vision in Action means:

  • Seeing the need

  • Speaking about it

  • Inviting others in

  • And serving together


Join Us in 2026


If you’ve been watching from the sidelines…

If you’ve been looking for a way to serve locally…

If you want your time and energy to matter…


We invite you to connect with us.


Visit https://www.maryvillelions.org to learn more about upcoming events and membership opportunities.



Helping others in your own community is one of the most rewarding investments you can make. It strengthens Blount County — and it strengthens you.


The need is real. The opportunity is here.


Let’s put vision into action — together.

 
 
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