Lions Club district governor says move will enhance growing community
The Hahnville, Luling/Boutte and Norco Lions Clubs have raised a lot of money over the years for special needs children and the visually challenged, but supporters hope that a new branch in Destrehan will help the community even more.
Anthony Fregosi, who serves as district governor of the Lions Club, has been trying to get a branch in the area for some time, largely because Destrehan has grown into a large community that could benefit from the services that the Lions Club provides.
“Every community has people in need of support,” he said. “From children who need early vision screening to detect ‘lazy eye’ problems or physically or mentally challenged children who would benefit from attending a summer camp designed with them in mind, and also to help the elderly with eye exams or low vision equipment.
“There are people in every community that need a Lions Club to help provide these services.”
And while Lions Clubs across the country provide similar services, each one is tailored to the specific community that it serves. That’s why the parish could use a fourth branch, Fregosi said.
“Ever club that is established develops a ‘personality’ and takes on projects based on the needs of the community and the skills and knowledge of its members,” he said. “Whenever a new club is formed, that club will seek to work on community needs that are not being addressed, either by other volunteer organizations or even other Lions Clubs.”
Plus, on large projects, it’s not uncommon for several local Lions Clubs to band together.
“Because of that, there are very few needs that a Lions Club believes it would not be able to address,” Fregosi said.
John Landry, who started the Luling/Boutte Lions Club 10 years ago, knows how successful another branch can be in St. Charles.
“With our 40 averaged member yearly membership, we were able to raise close to $1 million in the last 10 years,” he said. “Like the Luling/Boutte Lions Club, I believe that the people of Destrehan will be highly motivated to help the less fortunate.”
For more information, contact John Landry at 985-233-1701 or Anthony Fregosi at 504-817-5802.
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