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As usual Lion Bill (soon to be 94 years old) led the way to our work party on Friday and Saturday, May 15 and 16 at the “Via West Campus”. On Friday, he arrived early in his big truck, accompanied by his son Patrick and lugging 2 lawn movers, starting work even before anybody else showed up. By 9:00AM a handful of other DeAnza Lions arrived and received instructions from Rick, the leader at the Camp. Lions Joan and Dagi focused on pulling weeds around Building 11 and the 4 huge flower boxes in front of the house. Lion Bill and his son, Lions Al, Ray and Ron went through a lot of meadows, cutting grass, trying to avoid huge rocks hidden underneath.
On Saturday Lion Prez Jeff joined the grass cutting team in the hills, also clearing a fallen tree from the road to the upper areas, while Lions Joan and Dagi continued clearing the weeds around another abode, also planting some lilies and succulent plants Lion Joan had brought from her own garden.
The team finished the day by moving chemical barrels into the hazmat storage area.
Lion Prez Jeff summed it up: “A few Lions, a few hours, a couple days, good work once again”. 
National Wreaths Across America Day was on December 14th, 2019
Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 1,600 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.
Lion’s Mort, Eli, Ann Harris, Ray and Ron attended the ceremony. After the ceremony we participated in laying wreaths on the veterans’ graves.
A Shout Out to Lions Claire, Jen and Jeff who organized and managed our 40th year of the Cupertino De Anza Charity Food Drive. This year we provided 2 weeks worth of food to over 170 families in need and sent several trucks/SUV’s full of food to local charities.
Omar’s Dream Run is in its 7th year, and like in the past few years, it was held at Hellyer Park in South San Jose. Our club provided extra tables and support for financial transactions. Lions Eli, Ron, Jeff and Mike looked after the hauling back and forth of tables and chairs, while Lion Al and Barb took care of the financial side. Lion Claire participated with her two girls, and all 3 got a medal! Way to go!
As usual the event was amazingly well organized with dozens of young students volunteering with the elaborate set up. Lion Al estimates that around $ 50k were donated to the cause – which will provide learning tools, like computers, to young hospitalized students who can follow their classes from their hospital beds. As last year, Lion Claire’s friend Portia sent a little note and posted a few photos, too:
Hello! Here are some pictures of my niece and her classmate Coral, who Omar’s Dream sponsored after we connected them after the run last year! She is in remission 🎉❤️ and receiving maintenance chemo treatment. Her parents are both active military and they are being transferred to Columbus, OH soon, so we were so lucky to get to run with her this year!
More details to come
On October 17th, our second LINUS blanketeering night this year took off at our usual location, the Odd Fellow Hall in Cupertino. Lions Leslye and Joan, as well as Lions Jenni and Carl had been shopping for approx. 50 pieces of fleece which were waiting on two tables to be turned into cuddly blankets for little human beings. About a dozen adults, lions and friends, a LEO from Monta Vista, and almost a dozen of kids, including brownies, were busy cutting and knotting fringes. After ringing the bell, the kids took the ready blankets to Sharon (our rep from the LINUS organization) and she as well as one of her friends did final quality control before attaching labels. Lion Leslye had provided refreshments which were gratefully accepted by young and old. Apart from a few blankets which still needed knots to be tied, about 45 blankets were completed within 2 hours. Thanks to all participants and to Lion Don for once again letting us use the big practical hall.
Following our first Ride4Diabetes in August 2017, we continued our efforts to find a cure for Diabetes with the 2019 Ride4Diabetes fundraiser on September 8th, 2019.
A report and pictures of the event will be posted here shortly
On Monday, August 19th, My New Red Shoes, a charity sponsored and supported by Lion Claire and the Club, had a major event at the School in Alum Rock Area. A few lions showed up for the first shift from 9:00 – 11:30, helping to set up an enormous amount of brand-new shoes, albeit not all red in all sizes, for boys and girls, men and women. Even before the official opening, visitors, mostly families with several children, were lining up, to have first pick. The shoes are donated by stores around the Bay Area – mostly single pairs not available in all different sizes. But that did not seem to bother the little ones — main thing was that the new shoes fit
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The volunteers were assisting with measuring feet, and picking the appropriate size, trying to make sure that the person was comfortable with the new shoes after a few steps up and down the aisle. Everybody also got a colorful bag to take the gift home. There were many smiling faces – and we are just waiting for one of the official photographer’s pictures.
On Saturday, Aug 17th, the district had scheduled a service project to clean up the Lions San Martin building and park area.
The San Martin Lions provide our district with a place to hold cabinet meetings, social events plus many more events for free including parking the AJ Robinson truck and trailer.
Our own Lion RC Ray Lancon was there and took a couple of pictures.
Thanks to him and other Lions that made some time on the weekend!