Simsbury Lions Club leaders described the group's local service and fundraising efforts on Community Conversations, saying the club's funds are returned to local charities and programs.

"100% of all our fundraising goes back to the community," said Sandy Kremer, membership chair of the Simsbury Lions Club. Kremer, who also described the club's 60th anniversary, detailed activities ranging from school scholarships to vision screenings.

The Peace Poster Contest is open to middle-school students at Henry James Junior High, Kremer said. Winners are selected by district and presented at a statewide meeting at the American School for the Deaf in Bloomfield; top winners advance to state and national rounds.

Kremer and Phil Painshaw, communications chair, outlined the club's principal fundraisers: a mums and plant sale held over two weekends, pecan sales before Christmas, chocolate sales at Easter, and a Savers clothing and household drive. The club also partners with the Knights of Columbus for an annual pancake breakfast and assists local events by providing parking volunteers and other services.

One of the club's largest seasonal efforts is the Jack Bannon Turkey Drive, which the Lions have supported for more than 30 years. Kremer said the club collects turkeys and coordinates deliveries to FoodShare; distribution has moved from Bloomfield to Wallingford because of budget cuts, and the club is adjusting logistics to accommodate the change.

The club conducts vision-related work, including collecting used eyeglasses for refurbishment, subsidizing eye exams and glasses for qualifying residents, and providing vision screenings in schools, daycares and preschools. "We do the vision screening in all of the schools, the daycares and preschools," Kremer said.

Membership and meetings: the Simsbury Lions meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The third-Tuesday meeting, used to introduce prospective members, is held at 6:30 p.m. at the Cracker Barrel Pub in Terafil; the first-Tuesday business meeting is at the Simsbury Library and both meetings are available via Zoom. Kremer said initial membership fees are $35 (may change) and annual dues are $96, payable in installments if needed.

On outreach, Painshaw said online tools have been effective: "Facebook has been big," he said, while noting the club also uses local publications and television to recruit and promote events.

Upcoming volunteer activities mentioned on the program include a Halloween party and crafts coordinated with town departments serving older adults and those with disabilities, Sensory Santa later in the season, and participation in Simsbury Celebrates (trolley rides for people with mobility needs, availability pending).

Kremer provided membership contact information during the program (tprcremer@gmail.com) and encouraged interested residents to follow the Simsbury Lions Club Facebook page for updates and to propose collaborative community activities. "Anyone's welcome to reach out and propose something in the community we can do together," Painshaw said.

The interview aired as part of Simsbury Community Media's Community Conversations; the station closed the segment with a fundraising appeal explaining that subscription revenue declines have reduced its operating funds and asking viewers to donate to keep local programming available.