Many people might know them as supporters of youth sports, but the Holts Summit Lions Club does so much more.
The club has helped local Scout troops, hosted the city's soup kitchen when it started in 2008, aided fire victims, provided Buddy Packs to area children and assisted with various community activities, from the Holts Summit Police Department's Trunk-or-Treat to Shop with a Cop programs.
On Saturday, a 50th anniversary celebration took place for the club, which delayed the celebration by a year due to the pandemic. As we previously reported, the event featured food and refreshments, an oral history presentation, awards ceremony and building dedication ceremony.
Allen Berhorst, a long-time member of the Holts Summit club, was named a Melvin Jones fellow for "dedicated humanitarian services." It's one of the highest awards a Lion can receive.
The six-year club president is said to have helped wherever he's needed.
The ceremony ended with dedicating the Lions Club building to a long-time Lion. The building is known as Vaughan Hall, after the late Kenneth "Kenny" Vaughan. He served for a quarter-century before he died last year.
It's Lions members like Vaughan who have worked tirelessly for their communities through the Lions Club, living out the club's mission: "To empower Lions clubs, volunteers, and partners to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian services and grants that impact lives globally, and encourage peace and international understanding."
We join the Holts Summit community in congratulating the Lions Club for its 50 years of service. We thank the club for its variety of service over the years. It has truly made the city a better place to live.
News Tribune