Mackinaw City Lions Club members include (from left, back row) Ron Gwilt, Dave Wallis, Jeff Hingston, Tom Peters, Ray Mularz; (front row) Marv Cadwell, Woody Austin, George Stemkoski, Chuck Brew, Dennis Flemming, and Al Robbins. The Mackinaw City Lions Club, established in 1947, provided many benefits to George Stemkoski when he joined in 1957, and companionship and camaraderie were chief among them. The work that the club does for the community was also a major draw.

"You get to see guys you normally wouldn't," he said. “They do so many good things for the community."

The Lions Club serves as an important social outlet, Mr. Stemkoski said, while enabling its members to become better acquainted with the village through the club's programs.

One of the activities is the Lions Club wheelchair program.

The program, which started in 1948, began when citizens donated unneeded wheelchairs to the Lions Club, treasurer Al Robbins said. The club loaned them to anyone in need, receiving other medical equipment such as crutches and walkers soon afterward. The program snowballed, he said, and has been expanded to providing a wide range of mobility-enhancing items.

"It filled a need when people needed it," Lions Club member Ken Teysen said.

The program now also provides walkers, crutches, raised toilet seats, and shower seats to anyone who needs them. The devices can be obtained from the Mackinaw City Hall building at no charge. No time limit is imposed on the use of the equipment.

The club has also purchased scoreboards for Mackinaw City High School.

The eldest member of the Mackinaw City Lions Club, Mr. Stemkoski has served on the board of directors for more than 30 years and was president for six years.

Charles Brew is the current president.

Internationally, the Lions Club is dedicated to improving sight for the needy, and the Mackinaw City club collects and recycles unneeded eyeglasses toward that effort, and arranges eye exams for underprivileged. The club has also funded a cornea transplant, Mr. Brew said.

"It's everybody working together for a common cause," he noted.

The club's second annual Soup and a Bread Bowl meal will take place October 20. A dozen soups provided by restaurants will be served by the Lions Club. All proceeds from the program are used to benefit the community.

"Any money received from the public goes back to the public," secretary Ron Gwilt said.

The club is seeking new members, and particularly would like to invite young people to join.

The mobility program is also in need of new wheelchairs, as many have become worn out from use, Mr. Gwilt said.

Visitors to Mackinaw City take advantage of the program the most, he said, but the program is not well known to local residents, despite being nearly as old as the club itself. Police officers often notify visitors about the service when their mobility is impaired in accidents, he said.

Donations may be arranged by calling Mr. Gwilt at (231) 436- 5676. An appointment will be made for the donation to be picked up.

Those in need of wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, and other mobility devices can obtain them by contacting Mackinaw City Village Hall at (231) 436-5351. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Mackinaw City Lions Club meets the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at the Lion Dan Russell Building on 205 Cedar Street at 6 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.

"Come meet us at the Lion Dan Russell Building and find out what Lionism is all about," Mr. Brew said.