A unique and decidedly major donation to the Washington Lions Club was announced Monday evening, March 6, when the Washington club hosted the Region III, Zone II meeting of Georgia Lions District 18-F.

Lion Mary Hubbard, who has served six terms as president of the Washington club, used the occasion to inform club members and guests of "a most generous and welcome gift" of "literally thousands" of decorative fabric carrying cases for eyeglasses from Essex Manufacturing Company's Washington distribution plant and subsidiary of Baum Brothers Inc. of New York City.

Essex Manufacturing is one of the successors of the former Almar Manufacturing Company, one of Washington-Wilkes' oldest industries. Almar was founded in the 1940s by the late Alfred Moses, whose daughter, Vicky Moses, operates the popular "Second Time Around" mini-farm off the Thomson Highway.

Thomas Albea, Essex vice-president and plant manager, called Hubbard recently to explain that a shipment of colorful fabric book covers had become surplus because they did not properly fit the books for which they were ordered. He remembered that Lions International's main humanitarian emphasis is sight conservation and he thought the covers might serve as carrying cases for redistribution of eyeglasses.

"Of course I was delighted to accept the gift," said Hubbard, "although I did not know exactly how they might be used. When they were delivered last week, I was flabbergasted at the number. Boxes were stacked on our stage several deep and I thought they would fill the entire south end of the building."

Hubbard said she still does not have an accurate count of the inventory, but would call on club members to help with sorting, handling, and distributing after the best use has been determined.

In a fortunate coincidence, one of two program guests for Monday's program was Lion Don Smith of Decatur. Smith is District 18-F vice president of Georgia Lions Lighthouse for the Blind. He agreed that the covers could be used for eyeglasses and he arranged to take 1,000 of the items with him.

"I can tell you now that if we can figure a way to put the Lions logo on them, we can use all you have and more besides," Smith said. As his part on Monday's program, he then proceeded with an update of activities at the Georgia Lions Lighthouse.

The second program guest was Region Chairman Bonnie Martin of Thomson. She reviewed activities of the various clubs, including a report on membership trends, and also called attention to upcoming events. She urged attendance at the District Rally and Cabinet Meeting March 10-11 at Conyers.

Camellia City Lions Club of Thomson had five representatives to lead the way with most visitors present.

Other area clubs are Harlem and Lincolnton.