For over 30 years, the Borrego Springs Lions Club has been helping people in need--particularly children--in obtaining eye care and glasses.

The club meets at the Crosswinds Restaurant the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7pm. The club has 11 members, and the officers are: President Richard Hamilton; Secretary Pat Oakes; and, Treasurer Roger Ries.

Like other Lions Clubs, the Borrego version each February observes White Cane Days. This fundraiser collected almost $2,500 last year which was strictly used for yes, hearing, and other medical expenses for local residents. The club also helped a local woman who was going to need a $10,000 eye surgery. She was sent to the Lions clinic in Santa Monica and only had to pay $35.

The club has started a new program: At community events they will set up a table where they have the equipment to repair normal damage to eyeglasses. This saves folks the considerable drive to Ramona or farther to get their glasses fixed.

The Lions puts on two pancake breakfasts a year, one during Borrego Days, and the other on Easter Sunday at the elementary school. This isn't a wimpy pancake breakfast either. In addition to flapjacks, they serve a complete menu of eggs, sausage, chili (made personally by Roy Bouchey), coffee, juice, and milk.

They also do a lot of work with the local schools, they help fund playground equipment. Last Christmas they had a booth set up to help children who didn't have much money to buy presents for their parents. They donated $5,000 last year to the school's reading program.

At the 2008 Borrego Days Festival the club rented an astrojump, and let the Girl's Volleyball Team sell tickets and pocket the profits to help them buy team uniforms.