If you’ve lived in Bedford for any amount of time, you know that it’s all about community. To have a thriving community, you need people who are willing to provide help and fulfill the needs that arise at any given time. One such organization that has been meeting the needs of Bedford for six decades is the Bedford Lions Club, and their motto says it all: “Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.” The Lion, of course, is a symbol of strength, courage, and fidelity, but the word lion is also an acronym: Liberty, Intelligence, and Our Nation’s Safety, which accurately highlights the Lions’ commitment to the well-being and security of their town, country, and the broader global community.

If you’re not caught up on the Lions Club history of accomplishments over the years and what it means to the people who’ve received help, volunteered, or are members themselves, buckle up!

According to a 2017 article, the Bedford Lions Club was chartered as part of the New Hampshire Lions Club district 44-N on November 8th, 1965, with a roster of just twenty members, including current member, Tony Juliano, who we’ll learn more about later. The club was the first service organization established in Bedford and has grown immensely in membership and volunteers. It is currently under the stewardship of Sophie Cutler, who has been a Lion since January 2020 and joined the Bedford club in June 2022, when she moved to New Hampshire from Southern California.

When you think of the Lions Club, what comes to mind? Pamela Hogan, Bedford’s Welfare Director, used to think of the Lions’ organization as limited to certain specific programs. “I wasn’t aware of their broad local impact,” Pamela shared. “To me, they were more regionally focused or nationally focused and only geared towards vision and hearing assistance.” Indeed, many people remember growing up with drop-off boxes for eyeglasses (current local drop-offs include the Bedford Library and the Bedford Transfer Station). Pamela explained that their broad local impact is an integral part of the services within the town and that their contributions are fundamental, impactful, and growing in scope, especially over the past few years. She credits Sophie for generating new momentum and a fresh outlook on how the Bedford Lions Club and its growing volunteer support can contribute to the overall welfare of the town’s residents.

Over the years the club has all sorts of community projects and fundraising including (but not limited to) light bulb sales, scholarship awards, eye screening clinics, carnivals, auctions, golf tournaments, road races, pancake breakfasts, children’s photo IDs, Salvation Army bell ringing, highway clean ups, casino trips and more, especially in the last ten years. Sophie shared some of the club’s current main projects: the Bedford Community Food Pantry, Trex plastic recycling, scholarships, vision screening, the Medical Supply Closet, eyeglasses, and hearing aid assistance and collections, volunteering at Camp Allen, and handing out free popcorn at town events.

A humanitarian organization like this one helps many, but the people doing the helping also receive numerous benefits. There’s nothing like the feeling of helping someone. In big and small ways, Lions Club members and volunteers have been incredibly blessed to get to contribute to a number of causes in town and abroad. It’s not only a way to spend one’s time, but you also get to make great friends. Bedford Club Charter member Tony Juliano (1965) says what keeps him going is all the club does for the community. He’s especially fond of serving at the pancake breakfasts and takes great pride in serving on the scholarship committee that he’s been involved with since 1971. Despite all he gets out of it, there was a time, however, when he wanted to quit, but his late wife encouraged him to keep going, to stay for his life-long friends the club has given him.

A recent loss this past year of charter member Richard ‘Dick’ Como hit the Club especially hard. Dick and his wife, Peg, were always involved in Club activities, most recently the 2024 pancake breakfast. Dick was not only an active Lion, but he was also a Bedford Town Selectman. His legacy carries on in the services the Lions provide to the community today.

Ernie Henrichon joined in 1981 after being asked to a dinner meeting and was hooked! Ernie has been active in both vision screening for youth and supporting the Bedford Community Food Pantry, serving as both a founding member and treasurer. Ernie says The Food Pantry has been integral in attracting new members, along with the Trex Recycling program (saving over 700 pounds of landfill waste!).

Stephanie Chmielecki, Executive Director of the Bedford Community Food Pantry, applauds the dedication of the volunteers who organize food drives and appreciates the Bedford Lions Club for providing funding in times when there’s a need for large equipment, such as refrigerators and freezers. Elda Cordero-Goodman, a member since 1990 (invited by the first female member), managed the pantry during and after the COVID years until August 2023. “As a retired Nurse Practitioner, I anticipated outbreaks,” Elda said. “I ordered enough food that week to feed families for 3-6 months.” Her anticipation paid off, and they always had volunteers thanks to police, fire, moms, retired, and working parents who tirelessly answered the call for help at the pantry. “Informing everyone that Bedford had a food pantry was an eye-opener for everyone,” Elda added.

More recently, Ernie recalls, Lions Club International has expanded their goals to also support diabetes, hunger, the environment, and childhood cancer. When Haiti was hit by an earthquake in 2010, the Bedford club rallied around the cause with a program called “Crutches for Haiti.” “This effort,” Ernie explained, “is still going on today, where we collect used medical equipment, walkers, crutches, and canes to be shipped overseas to needy individuals.”

Mike and Claire Sills’ (members since 2009) favorite part of being Lions is running the program “Crutches for Haiti.” “We partner with the Canaan Lions Club for major needs ranging from earthquakes to Ebola virus outbreaks,” Mike shared. “So far, we have served over 20 countries, including places like Haiti, Nepal, the Philippines, Africa, Uruguay, Ecuador, the US, and recently, many shipments to Ukraine.” To run these projects effectively requires the assistance of many members to help clean, repair, wrap, and load the supplies for shipment.

The Lions Club is also known for its immediate response. The Bedford Lions Club was the very first organization to offer support when Friends of Bedford Baseball was founded to rebuild the Twarog Fieldhouse on Riley Field, which had become dilapidated over the years and couldn’t be used. “The Lions recognized this as exactly the type of project that needs large community support and jumped right in as a beacon for how Bedford works,” said Molly Topf, Bedford High School English Department Educator and President of Friends of Bedford Baseball. “Their philanthropy and dedication help internationally and environmentally, but they also support smaller homegrown projects!”

Camp Allen also benefits from The Lions Club’s long history of support, starting all the way back in 1931 when the Boston Lions Club founded the camp. Mel Gosselin, current Executive Director of the camp, explained how the Lions have been an immense help on camp check-in day, making it extra special by running the BBQ grills, allowing staff to focus on making sure the campers can settle into their cabins and get acquainted with the campus. “Members are kind,” Mel said, “and truly dedicated to the mission. “Where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.”

It’s clear how the Lions Club helps make Bedford a better place. When people come together to serve others, making such an incredible impact on the lives of those in need, we all win. Lifelong friendships, practicing humility, and being generous are what change lives and fulfill a life’s purpose. A great deal has been accomplished over the last 60 years. The possibilities for the next 60 are limitless.

Upcoming events include the Lions Club's annual “Meet the Candidates” pancake breakfast in early March 2026, and their dinner socials for prospective members take place every 2nd Tuesday of the month. If you are someone who would like to get involved and become a Lion, people 18 and older can attend an informational (and complimentary!) dinner and submit an application for a nominal fee. For more information, you can visit BedfordNHLionsClub.org. For those interested in volunteering opportunities, contact Sophie Cutler at sophcutler@yahoo.com.