Lions Clubs Unite to Restore Local Family’s Home—Proving “Where There’s a Need, There’s a Lion”

BULVERDE, Texas | June 15, 2025 — Three local Lions Clubs did what they do best: they showed up.

In an inspiring show of neighbor-to-neighbor compassion, volunteers from the Bulverde, New Braunfels Evening, and Canyon Lake Noon Lions Clubs teamed up to transform the overgrown property of a Spring Branch-area family facing multiple health crises.

What was once a simple yard had grown into an overwhelming jungle. Grass had reached waist height. Trees and weeds towered more than 10 feet tall. The task of clearing it was simply too large for the family to manage—and too dangerous to ignore.

So, the Lions came.

In a focused two-hour service sprint, Lion volunteers tackled the overgrowth by clearing weeds, pruning tangled shrubs, and bringing the unruly trees back under control—instantly restoring safety and dignity to the family’s home. The before-and-after photos tell the story best—what was once an impassable thicket is now a clean, open yard.

The household’s challenges are steep: the mother is undergoing cancer treatment, their son lives with Down Syndrome, and the father was recently debilitated by a stroke— leaving the family physically unable to maintain their property. A sprawling mass of brush had overtaken the yard, drawing code-enforcement pressure and cutting off access to the front door.

“This is what Lions do,” said Alexis Gallardo, President of the Bulverde Lions Club. “We saw a need, we showed up, and we worked together. We couldn’t stand by and watch one of our own neighbors struggle. Rolling up our sleeves—and our mowers—was the only option.”

Sweat Equity—and a Financial Boost

Alongside the hands-on labor, each club donated funds to hire a professional landscaping crew, KV Greenworks, to finish the heavier clearing and haul away debris, ensuring the family won’t face disposal fees or equipment costs. The combined in-kind service and cash contributions are valued at more than $1,000.

A Before-and-After Worth a Thousand Words

Photos taken at the start of the morning and after the final rake-down show a dramatic makeover: shoulder-high brush replaced with a tidy, navigable yard, ready for meditative gardening and caregivers to transport medical equipment without hazard. “Service like this reminds us that we’re stronger together,” said Graham Duhamel, Vice President of the Canyon Lake Noon Lions. “You never know when your neighbor might be the one in need.”

Looking Ahead

While the clubs can’t maintain weekly or monthly service visits, leaders agreed to reassess the family’s needs every six months and schedule another multi-club workday if circumstances warrant.

“Our motto is ‘We Serve,’ and yesterday we lived it,” said Barry Waldie, Vice President of the New Braunfels Evening Lions. “This joint project has sparked momentum for more cooperative service between clubs—and reminded us all that kindness is contagious.”

About the Lions Clubs Involved

The project was a partnership among the Bulverde Lions Club, New Braunfels Evening Lions Club, Canyon Lake Noon Lions Club, and Garden Ridge, all part of Lions Clubs International—the world’s largest service organization with 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries.

For additional information about joining a local Lions Club or supporting future service projects, visit www.lionsclubs.org or follow #WeServe on social media.