WORCESTER, Mass - Sunday was a cause for celebration for a Central Massachusetts community service group. The Worcester Lions Club re-established themselves after disbanding a few years ago.
The club hosted its charter event on Sunday morning. The club was established in 19-22, making it one of the oldest in the country. Declining membership led to the club halting its efforts around 2019, but president Andrew Keened says about two years of work have helped them rebuild their base.
The club focuses on a number of community service projects including support for people with impaired vision, food insecurity and people who have experienced a disaster.
Keane says he's excited for the revitalized club to get to work.
"I've been a lion 20 years now," Keane said. "Actually, this summer is my 20-year anniversary. And it's just a very rewarding experience to be able to have that direct impact and really be able to see your help with people in the community. Any club is always looking for ways to help within their local community, and Worcester is a big city. There's a lot of needs right now. We're just 23 people. We're hoping to continue to grow like we've been doing."
Keane says the Lions is the world's largest service organization, and the re-established Worcester club is working towards organizing its first community service projects.