The Whitehall Lions Club serves the needs of members of the Whitehall community in a variety of ways.

Although the club is well known for helping people with visual impairments, the club's community assistance extends beyond these endeavors.

Members of the Whitehall Lions recognize the positive impact that other organizations have on the community, and frequently offer their services to support these groups.

During the club's Oct. 7 meeting at the Fellowship Community Center, the Lions made surprise donations to both the Fellowship Community and the Whitehall Township Public Library.

The gifts were made possible through fundraising events and the Norman Standorf Memorial Fund.

Standorf, a longtime member of the Lions, served on the Whitehall Township Public Library Board of Trustees and was also active in Fellowship community.

"We chose to give to Fellowship because we hold our meetings here, because some of our members live here, and because they give great care," Lions Club President Cindy Polzer said.

Lisa Hazler, the executive vice-President of finance at Fellowship, said the $900 donation will be put to good use and Fellowship is very grateful for the Lions.

"Contributions such as these are used to help offset the cost of care for many of our residents who can no longer afford to privately pay for their care," Hazler said.

Patty Vahey, the director of the Whitehall library, accepted the $600 donation from the Lions. The money will be used to purchase books in large print that enable those with visual impairments to read more easily.

"We rotate our large print collection every 45 days and loan books to Fellowship so that residents who can't get to the library can have books as well," Vahey said.