Chester Lioness Lions Club Celebrates 40th Anniversary

In October, the Chester Lioness Lions Club celebrated its 40th anniversary of being sisters in service.

In 1985, Mary Babcock, the wife of Lion Bill Babcock, asked the wives of Lion’s members if they were interested in starting the Chester Lioness club. Thirteen wives and 4 other women from the community agreed and, with sponsorship from the Chester Lions Club, the Chester Lioness club was born. In May 2020, Chester Lioness Club became the Chester Lioness Lions Club with sponsor ship from the Chester Lions.

Chester Lioness now has 34 members who serve by giving of themselves for the benefit of others.

Over these 40 years, Chester Lioness has served local communities by providing hands on service working in partnership with local community organizations. During their 2024 to 2025 fiscal year alone, 90 service activities touched 11,305 people in local communities.

In recent years, service projects have included:

· Community Hope House by delivering Christmas gifts and picnics for Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day to developmentally disabled individuals

· Baking for Homeless Solutions, a shelter offering services and supportive housing to Morris County’s homeless and working poor

· Volunteering to work Matheny’s Second Chance Thrift Shop, which funds Matheny children’s specialize hospital and school

· Two to three scholarships for local high school students

Chester Lioness is a 501(3) non-profit organization and women looking to participate can email the club at chesternjlionessclub@gmail.com.