By: Hannah Earnhardt, Director of Development, North Carolina Lions, Inc.

It’s officially fall, which means it’s now the season of giving. We often get wrapped up in all the festivities of having fun with family and friends, enjoying great food, and spending money on all sorts of things. Now is the opportunity to step back and reflect on how we can make a difference—be it big or small—in the lives of those within our community.

For many of us, we don’t realize how fortunate we are to have the gift of sight. For over 270,000 individuals across North Carolina, they are unable to greet the day with sight. Each year North Carolina Lions, Inc. (NCLI) assists over 13,000 individuals with blindness or visual impairments. NCLI is able to assist so many through our 12 programs and services, such as Camp Dogwood for the Blind and Visually Impaired, free Mobile Screening Unit, matching funds, support and mobility canes, and so much more. In 2016/2017, NCLI provided over $88,000 in programs and services to Lake Norman’s surrounding counties: Lincoln, Catawba, Mecklenburg, and Iredell.

Let’s all come together and break down the consumerism and commercialization of the holiday season by giving back to those in OUR own communities. For one VIP who attends Camp Dogwood each summer, “Camp Dogwood is not just a retreat for the blind; it’s a refuge. It helped change my life.”

Take a few moments and make a donation, volunteer your time, or share the great work of North Carolina Lions, Inc. with someone new today. With your help, NCLI can continue to change lives through our programs and services while also providing individuals with joy, hope, and memories to last a lifetime! Let’s serve more than 13,000 individuals this year.

Thank you for making a difference in someone’s life today!

To learn more about North Carolina Lions, Inc., how to become a volunteer, or to make a donation in support of the blind and visually impaired, please visit www.nclionsinc.org.