Lions Club boosts support to camp

The Clarendon Lions Club will increase its support of the Texas Lions Camp following their Tuesday meeting.

The club heard a program from Lion Jack King of the Amarillo Downtown Lions Club, who discussed the camp, and met his challenge to become a 100% Club by contributing $10 per member to the camp.

Located in Kerrville, the Texas Lions Camp caters to children with any kind of physical disabilities ranging from missing limbs to asthma.

“They [the camp personnel] grab those kids physically, mentally, and every other way to show them the biggest time of their lives,” King said, who is a director for the camp.

He said the camp was established by the Lions 52 years ago for kids who were battling the debilitating effects of polio. Today the camp has programs for crippled children as well as kids with diabetes, respiratory problems, hearing loss, or impaired vision.

Some of the programs include a minature golf course, horseback riding, and swimming. In addition to the fun activities, the camp teaches life skills such as helping diabetic children learn to care for themselves and even how to give themselves insulin injections.

King told a story of boy who had no arms and legs and went to the camp. His favorite activity was horseback riding.

“Everything is set up for these kids, and everything is accessible to them.”

The swimming pool even has a ramp going into it. Wheelchair bound kids can drive their chair into the pool until they just float out of it, he said.

The camp raises the children’s self-esteem and praises them for their accomplishments – sometimes for the first time in their lives.

King said many times the hardest part of getting kids into the camp is just convincing the parents to let them go. Some of the kids have never been away from home.

The members of the Clarendon Lions Club, like all Texas Lions clubs, support the camp with their a portion of their regular dues. Tuesday’s action by the club was an additional donation to the camp.

The Texas Lions Camp is open to children ages seven to 17, and the Clarendon Lions hope to see some local child or children attend the camp. For more information, contact Boss Lion Stan Leffew at 874-3584.