On Thursday, Feb. 3, Lions President Bob Denesha, Secretary Roberta J. Vincent and PCC/Guiding Lion Nanette Burdick met at the Easter Seals / Veterans Rally Point at 24 Stott Ave. in Norwich to fulfill the vision of a past President, Lion Arthur J. Mueller (1946 — 2020).

Art’s service to the Norwich Lions started in 1999; during his 21 years he served as President, Vice President, Secretary, Lion Tamer. He was involved with LCIF-Low Vision Center Staff, Center for the Blind, organized “Shake the Can” for donations, was active in the donation of Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to seniors and shut-ins and vision screening for children and adults.

Several years before Art’s death, he introduced the idea of recycling the hard eyeglass cases and making them useful; this idea did not come to fruition until today.

The Norwich Lions Club has Glass Collection Boxes at 79 Wawecus St., Norwich Big Y, Norwich Stop & Shop, Lisbon Walmart and Norwich America’s Best.

The eyeglasses and cases are separated and in May there is a district-wide collection of eyeglasses; each club brings them to the collection site assigned for recycling. The soft cases are discarded, and the reusable hard cases are stored.

The stored, sanitized hard cases, with an “Art’s Case” label placed on the outside have been filled. Inside the case is soap, lip balm, Band-Aids, hand wipes, antibiotic ointment, toothpaste, travel toothbrush and Tic Tacs. The case was then placed inside a white sock and the top of the sock was secured with a knot. The outside label reads, “Art’s Case — Courtesy of the Norwich Lions Club."

The Norwich Veterans Coffee House members donated several hundred dollars; the balance of the items was paid for by the Norwich Lions. President Denesha spoke to the Norwich Police about distribution, and they agreed to accept the Art’s Cases and give them out to the needy.

Officer McKinney picked up three containers of Art’s Cases, totaling 100.

Art was larger than life; his service to the Norwich Community was unwavering. Since 2012, he was also a board member of the Society of the Founders of Norwich, gave museum tours and helped train docents. He portrayed the first “Benedict Arnold Returns to Norwich” in 2013, and the last event he participated in was the Colonial Christmas of 2019.

Today, we have fulfilled one of the Lions District 23C goals, as stated by District Governor Michele Wyatt: “Service from the Heart.”