ORANGE PARK — The Orange Park Lions Club extended the holiday for a special group of veterans by providing them with a free pancake breakfast at our clubhouse.

All veterans were treated to delicious pancakes, sausage and a choice of drink. Others who wanted to support our cause were invited to dine with the special guests for a nominal fee. The first veterans arrived before 8 a.m. and continued past 10 a.m. We were able to serve a homeless man.

Names were drawn every 15 minutes for door prizes provided by local corporate sponsors and other Lions members. Back in the kitchen, the food was prepared by a group of Lion chiefs, and out front, guests were greeted at the door, and more great Lion Volunteers served. Family members of the Lions also helped.

The corporate sponsors who provided door prizes and food items for the event were Grumpy’s Restaurant, IHOP, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp minor league baseball team, Ruby Tuesday and Lion Club members Carl and Vicky Crosby, Dave and Celia Vencil, Richard Campbell and Mike Poweleit.

We were honored to have so many great veterans join us. So many had some great stories. One of our special guests had served in three conflicts. Another special guest was Orange Park Mayor Randy Anderson, a Navy Veteran. Most U.S. Armed Services branches were represented. The Lions Club was presented with Lakeshore and Mandarin Moose Lodge donation checks. The morning’s highlight was when the Moosehaven bus pulled up with several Moosehaven veterans and their spouses and guests.

Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization, with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas worldwide. The local Orange Park Lions Club just celebrated their 75th Anniversary last fall. They meet on the second and fourth Monday at 7 p.m. at their meeting hall at 423 McIntosh Ave.

The club provides eyeglasses to those in need, accepts donated used glasses and hearing aids, provides eye exams for those who can’t afford them, provides diabetes research, takes part in senior citizen services, helps local food banks and animal shelters, works with other service organizations at the Clay Impact Train, and of course, help out our well deserving veterans.

For information about membership, call (904) 264-5866.