Windsor Lions take Pride in Community Support

Sometimes volunteering happens almost by accident. Long-time Windsor resident Lou Morando realized one day that he wanted to get involved in his town, learn about Windsor, and connect with some of his neighbors, so he and his family went to the Lions' Club Pancake Breakfast. That was over 30 years ago, and he's been a Lion every since.

The Lions’ mission is to “create and foster a spirit of understanding among all people for humanitarian needs by providing voluntary services through community involvement and international cooperation.” The Windsor Lions were started in 1953 and are a part of the Lions International, the largest service club organization in the world. Morando sums up volunteering as "a way of rewarding your inner-self.”  

You may be aware of the Lions' collection boxes for old eyeglasses, but they also offer other vision-health initiatives. Currently, Morando is the Windsor Lions’ Eye Care Chairman; he coordinates a program to provide necessary eye care and glasses for youngsters and senior citizens in need of financial assistance. So far, the Lions have assisted more than 30 school children and about 10 seniors get the vision care they need. 

The Lions also delivered 40 dozen reading glasses to the Veteran’s Home in Rocky Hill. Morando said that the vets couldn’t have been happier to stop squinting and start reading.

Morando is also a Reader for CRIS Radio – the reading service for the blind and print handicapped, which is supported by the Lions. Last year, when he was unexpectedly retired, a couple of his Lions buddies who were veteran CRIS readers got him started. Now Morando reads the news during a live broadcast on Mondays and Wednesdays, and also provides clerical support and customer service for the CRIS listeners. He says it makes his day to have a listener call and exclaim, “You can’t imagine what listening to CRIS does for me!”  

The Lions also contribute to the Windsor Fuel Bank, the Windsor Independent Living Association, Scholarships for the high school, Hearing Conservation programs for those in need, the CT Lions Eye Research Foundation and the Windsor Library Association.

To support all their projects, the Windsor Lions start their fundraising as soon as the weather warms up with an Easter Plant Sale. Then they move on to the Mother’s Day Weekend arts and crafts festival, the Shad Derby, and the Columbus Day Weekend festival. Morando is the Food Chairman for these events which means he will be doing a lot of heavy lifting and cooking during the fair weather.

When asked about the requirements for joining the Lions, Morando half-jokingly replied, “A strong back!” Currently, the Windsor Lions have 41 members and are looking for more. They meet twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month and as needed for their projects and events. The Lions value teamwork. Their motto is: What we can’t do as individuals, we can do as a group.

For more information about the Lions and the programs they sponsor you can go to the CT Lions website.