Savannah-Crestview Lions hoping for growth after territory expansion

The Village of Savannah was a much different place when its Lions Club formed in 1944.

"There were two gas stations," said Kevin Reidy, a longtime Lions Club member. "There was a grocery store. It was a vibrant community."

The service club in the town in the northwest corner of Ashland County grew as soldiers returned home from the war, eager to start families and build their neighborhood.

The club hopes to grow once again after its membership decided this year to expand to become the Savannah-Crestview Lions Club.

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Lions Club hopes expansion brings strength

Reidy said the move followed a lengthy period of membership stagnation. While the club was strong, growth was elusive.

"We've been between 30 and 50 in our club," Reidy said. "We're really looking to grow our club."

Reidy said he's served many roles during his tenure as a member. Last year, he was governor of Ohio's second Lions district, which consists of 12 counties.

While the global organization works to prevent avoidable blindness, provide access to food, reduce the prevalence of diabetes, protect the environment and cure childhood cancer, the Savannah Lions realized in March their local enrollment had dwindled to a point where their ability to help others would need to be bolstered.

"That was a very good conversation," Reidy said.

Members chose to expand the club's demographic from beyond the village into the surrounding countryside, and this summer the club became the Savannah-Crestview Lions. It now accepts members from portions of both Ashland and Richland counties.

Reduced population forced club's expansion

Savannah lost some prominence when its school closed in the 1960s and students were consolidated into the Crestview Local School District along with pupils from the former Union School.

The village had been steadily losing some of its population when Reidy moved there in 1998. By the 2020 census, only 329 people lived in the village.

Savannah Lions have long, generous history

The first generation of Savannah Lions attracted regional attention when they started parking cars at the Ashland County Fair every September, a tradition that has continued for more than six decades.

"It was our largest service project," Reidy said.

Unfortunately, it ended after the 2021 fair. In March, members notified the county Fair Board they needed to end the parking program because of a lack of available man-hours.

"We're still involved with the fair," Reidy said. "It's just a different phase of our service."

The Savannah-Crestview Lions Club has teamed this year with the Polk Lions Club to operate a shuttle service for fairgoers who need a ride from their vehicle to the gates.

Lions members will be stationed in both parking areas, and will be available to assist throughout the fair.

"We're excited to continue to provide services to folks at the Ashland County Fair," Reidy said. "Just in a little different way."

'Always trying to make an impact'

Service is at the heart of the Lions Club, both locally and globally.

Savannah-Crestview members recently completed a back-to-school supply drive for students from portions of each county.

"Children from both areas come and receive school supplies," Reidy said.

In addition to receiving pencils, rulers and notebooks, attendees also learn to put together a small budget for their items.

"They're given a bag of about 40 coins," Reidy said. "Then they have to pay, and things are labeled by the number of coins they cost."

Other projects include an ongoing renovation of Savannah Town Hall, an annual village trick-or-treat night, a scholarship program for Crestview seniors and at least a dozen more.

"We're the only volunteer service organization that serves the Crestview Local School District," Reidy said. "We're always trying to make an impact."

The projects in Ashland and Richland counties gain recognition from Lions Clubs around the globe.

"We report our service to Lions Clubs International," Reidy said.

Last year, Ohio was the only region in the world to receive a 100% service reporting.

"I'm talking 220 nations, 1.4 million members worldwide," Reidy said.

'Really looking to grow our club'

Residents interested in helping with the organization's service projects are welcome, as they have been since the first Lions Club was formed in downtown Chicago in 1917.

That first club was created so prominent businessmen could donate their time and resources to help solve social issues created during the Great War.

By 1920, that first club was ready to sponsor a handful of new clubs. Among them was the Ashland Noon Lions Club, eventual sponsor of the Savannah-Crestview Lions Club.

"Every new charter has to have a sponsor," Reidy explained.

There are now 10,000 members throughout the state, and 10 clubs in Ashland County.

Anyone interested in joining the organization should visit LionsClubs.org, which will connect them with their local group. The Savannah-Crestview Lions Club accepts members who are single, those who have recently formed young families, as well as empty nesters. All that is needed is that they apply.

"The board of directors reviews the applicants," Reidy said. "We certainly are looking for folks that have a service heart."

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This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Savannah-Crestview Lions hoping for growth after territory expansion