Eudora couple launches Lions of Pride and Purpose volunteer group – The Lawrence Times
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When Eric Tweedy saw that there was no Lions Club in Kansas that focused on LGBTQIA+ people, he knew he had to do something about it.
Tweedy founded Lions of Pride & Purpose with his husband, Eric Strimple. The couple has been members of the Eudora Lions Club for about six years.
The two created a Facebook page for Lions of Pride & Purpose on August 8. The nonprofit organization is working to establish a Lions Club that supports the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“We need to serve our LGBTQIA+ community, and as a member of the community, I feel like a lot of needs aren’t being met,” said Tweedy, District 17A Global Extension Team Coordinator.
A Lions Club is a volunteer service organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of its community, according to Lions Club International. There are 49,000 clubs worldwide, and Lions can apply for grants through the Lions Club International Foundation.
Lawrence will be recognized as its own chapter, known as the Lawrence Noon Lions Club. Lions for Pride & Purpose will be a cyber club that will focus primarily on LGBTQIA+ needs in Lawrence, Douglas County, and Kansas. Virtual meetings will also be open to anyone from anywhere.
To be recognized as a branch, Lions for Pride & Purpose needs five members sponsored by an existing club to hold meetings. The Eudora Lions Club is a sponsor. Once there are 20 members, the organization will be recognized as an official Lions club, according to Tweedy.
Tweedy said the club will focus on unemployment, homelessness, hunger, drug and alcohol prevention, mental health and anything else that might come up at virtual meetings.
“Where there is a need, there is a lion,” said Tweedy.
Tweedy and Strimple began discussions several months ago about starting a Lions Club with a focus on LGBQTIA+. Strimple said working with his wife on the project has been rewarding.
“Making this Cyber Club a reality has been our dream since we both joined the Lions, and now that we are both in a position to lead the project, we are ready to make it a reality,” said Strimple, Global Membership Team Coordinator for District 17A.
Tweedy hopes Lions of Pride & Purpose can collaborate with other organizations, such as local Lions Clubs and other LGBTQIA+-focused organizations and nonprofits.
“There are so many great organizations already making waves,” Tweedy said. “I hope they will open their arms to a new Lions Club that wants to improve the community. Together we are strong. We could make these waves a big one.”
Anyone interested in joining the Lions of Pride & Purpose can contact Tweedy via email at [email protected]. For more information, visit the Facebook page at this link.
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Lane Rozin (he/she), a Lawrence Times staff writer, is a student in the University of Kansas Schools of Journalism and Film. He is a graduate of Pittsburg High School, where he was multimedia editor for Pitt Media from 2019 to 2021. He is currently a senior editor at the University Daily Kansan and director of development at KJHK. See more of his work for the Times here.
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