History

The Columbia Lions Club history dates back to 1939, March 14 to be exact, when 200 people gathered at the Far East Inn at the corner of Lancaster Avenue and 15th Street to celebrate “Charter Night.” One of our first service projects was to raise funds to purchase eyeglasses for 15 students at Columbia public and parochial schools. Several years later, the Lions held an amateur boxing night at Glatfelter Field to raise funds for children to attend summer camp at French Creek State Park in Chester County.

Continuing the tradition of sponsoring children to attend summer camp, the Columbia Lions donated $5,000 to the Pennsylvania Lions Beacon Lodge Camp in 2021 for children and adults with special needs. Located in Mount Union, Beacon Lodge provides individuals with special needs including blindness, deafness and other physical and mental challenges the opportunity to enjoy a summer camping experience.