The Brookhaven Alpha Lions Club hosted its 25th annual soup dayMonday, a tradition begun when the club formed in 1992 and one ofits primary fundraisers to support its many community projects.

Club President Gail Freeman said the club prepared to servearound 600 people, and at least 400 had gone through the line topurchase a bowl of homemade vegetable soup with an hour yetremaining before the event was scheduled to end.

The proceeds from the soup sale do not support any one clubproject, but contribute as needed to the club’s manyactivities.

Those activities range from the purchase of eye glasses andhearing aides to the sponsorship of local children for week-longvisits to camps around the state, such as the statewide Lions Boysand Girls Leadership Camp at Roosevelt State Park in Morton.

The club’s giving does not end with camps. It also contributes$1,000 each year for the Mississippi All-State Band and supportsany local high school musician that earns a chair, and spends $200each year to sponsor the Alpha Lions Soccer Team for 4-year-olds.The club also recently donated to the Lincoln-Lawrence-FranklinRegional Library for the purchase of large-print books, along withvarious other community projects, such as sponsored programs ondiabetes awareness.

“During any given year, we probably spend around $8,000 or$9,000 on various projects,” Freeman said.

While the Lions labor to take care of the elderly in thecommunity, the most important event sponsored by the club is forthe children. Every year, the club – and every other Lions Clubaround the state – visits elementary and middle schools to performeye examinations for students in grades kindergarten through eighthgrade.

Club member Pat Dunn said the work is always appreciated by thecommunity.

“I’ve had people come up to me on the street and thank me,” shesaid. “And tell me they didn’t know their child had vision problemsuntil the club did the screening and the school nurse sent home thenote. Nothing gives you more pleasure than helping people.”

In order to continue services like student eye exams, the clubhas several other fundraisers occurring throughout the year.

On April 3, it will host a fish fry. Two new projects, begunduring the fall of last year, are ongoing. The club continues tosell giant, educational coloring books and heavy-duty trashbags.

The ongoing fundraising requires dedication.

“This is not a social club,” Dunn said. “People in this clubhave to go to work.”