About Us

To volunteer our time and provide financial assistance to the disabled, underprivileged, elderly, and youth of our local communities and internationally where appropriate, particularly related to sight and hearing in accordance with the mission of Lions Clubs International.

The Bellingham Central Lions Club, founded in 1923, has proudly served the people of Bellingham and Whatcom County for more than a century. Our legacy is rooted in hands‑on service, community partnership, and an unwavering commitment to helping neighbors in need.
Like Lions around the world, we champion the global causes of preventing blindness and deafness. Through LCIF—the Lions Clubs International Foundation—we help fund major initiatives that combat river blindness, restore sight, and address preventable diseases worldwide. Locally, we collect and recycle thousands of used eyeglasses each year and support vision and hearing care for community members who lack access.
Here at home, our service takes many forms. We provide free vision and hearing exams, eyeglasses, and hearing aids to those in need, and we operate the Haskell Lions Eye Clinic, offering essential eye‑care services to the community. Our Hearing Aid Support program ensures that individuals with hearing challenges receive the devices and assistance they need to stay connected.
We also run the Lions Wheelchair Warehouse, a volunteer‑powered medical equipment loan program serving Whatcom and Skagit Counties. At any given time, hundreds of wheelchairs, walkers, knee scooters, and other mobility aids are out on loan, helping people recover safely and maintain independence.
Our commitment to youth and education is reflected in programs like Lions Books for Kids, which provides new books to local children to encourage literacy and a lifelong love of reading. We also support local schools through scholarships, youth sports, and leadership development initiatives.
Community engagement is part of our DNA. The Lions Civic Field Concession Stand—operated by our volunteers—raises funds that go directly back into local service projects. Alongside this, we maintain a variety of fundraising efforts throughout the year. Every dollar we raise is returned to the community through programs that support families in need, youth, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
For more than 100 years, the Bellingham Central Lions Club has stood for service, compassion, and community impact—and we continue that mission today with pride.