Lions Club broom sale May 12

As the Adrian Lions Club prepares for its annual broom sale, Pete Hill, Lions club member for over fifty years, reflected on the event.

“In 1950, the broom sale was our only fund raiser,” Hill said. “We used to bring in a truck full of brooms and park on Main Street on a Saturday. People used to come to town on Saturday to buy things, and we would sell to them from the truck.”

Hill said he estimates the door to door selling of brooms, dish cloths, utility sponges, tea towels, oven mitts and dust cloths began in the early 1960s. All of the products the Lions Club sells are made by the Kansas Industry for the Blind; proceeds from the sale go the the Lions Club Sight Preservation Program.

The Adrian Lions Club also raises funds through selling concessions at Adrian at baseball and softball games and through selling fireworks in Adrian. On Halloween, when Sight and Safety night is held, the Lions collect old eyeglasses, which are then sent to Columbia, Missouri to be fitted for people who need corrective eye wear. The Lions also collect eyeglasses throughout the year at various drop boxes in Adrian.