From the creation of Lions Park many years ago to today's Sensory Garden at the Port of Olympia, Olympia Lions have a long history of working to protect our local environment. Olympia Host Lions started the first newspaper recycling effort in Olympia in the mid-1940s. Today we manage environmental projects to recycle paper bags for use by the Food Bank, used eyeglasses for use overseas, and soft plastic film for remanufacture into decking and outdoor furniture.
Lions Park is a large city park bordered by 7th, 9th, Wilson and Fredrick streets in Olympia.
In 1942, the land was brush and debris but Lions envisioned a playground for neighborhood youngsters. When the idea was accepted by the Olympia City Council, club members went to work to clear the land and install needed equipment.
Today, the park has undergone several transformations but still stands as a living tribute to the civic pride and hard work of the Lions.
If you walk along the Budd Bay walking trail at the JKL docks of Swantown Marina, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the Lions Sensory Garden.
A partnership with the Port of Olympia which provides the land and water, this garden project includes flowers and herbs for people to smell even though they may not be able to see.
Lions provide the labor to plant and maintain the garden - Monthly garden parties are fun and gratifying as people walking by stop to say thanks for creating a beautiful and peaceful space.
If you would like to get your hands dirty with the Lions on this and other environmental projects, give us a call!
Working with the Olympia Downtown Alliance, Lions lend a hand where needed to make our town more welcoming.
Lions have been called on to help out during annual downtown cleanup days by sweeping streets, painting out graffiti or repairing park benches donated years ago by the Lions.
Olympia Host Lions partner with the PARC Foundation, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Griffin and Yelm school districts and park departments to celebrate Earth Day each year with community cleanup of local parks.
The multi-park clean up projects include a contest for schools based on student and parent participation.
Lions fund prizes for winning schools, provide t-shirts for participants, and staff refreshment tables at each location.
Olympia Host Lions are keeping thousands of pounds of plastic film out of Puget Sound and out of our landfills each year.
In a partnership with the Thurston County Food Bank, local businesses and Trex, Olympia Host Lions collect plastic film for recycling in our plastic film recycling project. The plastic, including produce bags, commercial overwrap, reclosable food storage bags and bubble wrap, cannot be recycled in the local municipal waste stream.
Plastic collected by the Lions is shipped to Trex to be recycled into decking and outdoor furniture. In return, Trex donates outdoor benches to the Lions for use in our community.
Download a list of plastic film we can recycle here.
To learn how you or your business can be part of this important recycling effort, send us a message.
Olympia Host Lions support the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center (LERC) in Lacey. Each year, local Lions collect and process thousands of pairs of used eyeglasses for reuse in developing countries.
Glasses are collected from the public in boxes at sites all around town. At the LERC, Lions and friends sort the incoming glasses, clean them, read prescriptions and package each pair with labels for shipment out with mission groups to sites around the world.
To help out or for a list of places where you can drop off used eyeglasses, call the Lions EyeLine at 360 790-8667
The Steamboat Branch of Olympia Host continually collect clean paper and heavy plastic grocery bags for re-use by the Food Bank to distribute food.
The plastic bag recycling project involves a partnership with the Griffin Fire Department which provides space for storing bags and help with loading up. Another good example of the community working together.
Plastic Recycling - List of Plastics that can be recycled by the Lions (docx)
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Olympia Host Lions meet Tuesdays at noon at the First Baptist Church downtown Olympia. Plenty of Parking at 9th and Franklin.
Call for info at 360 790-8667.
Steamboat Branch Lions meet the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Griffin Fire Hall #1 on the Steamboat Island Road.
The Lions Low Vision Resource Center has moved! You can find us now at 2600 Martin Way East.