On Sept. 6, 2026, Lions Club members Mike Podborny, Kenny Sanders, Diane Podborny, Mark Miller (I-80 Gold), and Mike Rebaleati participated in the Lions Club Clean-Up Eureka campaign, picking up trash along Highway 50 between the Eureka County Fairgrounds and the Highway 278 intersection. During that same week, Ralph Cuda was sitting on Main Street repainting the red no-parking curbs.
The Eureka Lions Club has a long tradition of cleaning the highways a couple of times a year as part of its service to the community. Ralph decided on his own to paint the curbs on Main Street in preparation for the wine walk, but not necessarily as an official Lions Club community service. But that’s the special thing about being a member of the Lions Club. Service to your community just becomes a part of everyday life.
According to the Lions Club website, “Kindness defines who we are as Lions. And why we serve. An act of kindness may be small and personal, or large and profound. When 1.4 million men and women come together to serve, it represents a dynamic force for good.” This mission is certainly evident in Eureka.
The Eureka Lions Club supports the community through a variety of programs. Its semiannual Clean Eureka campaign is just one example. The Eyeglass Program helps people in need get eye appointments and new glasses. Emily Carrasco, the school nurse at both Eureka schools, is available to help students and their parents get more information.
Each fall, the Lions Club hosts the annual Pumpkin Patch. Members set up a pumpkin patch area in ‘R’ Park, providing pumpkins for a nominal cost. This kid-friendly activity adds plenty of fun and entertainment. To commemorate the day, they also set up a fall-inspired photo backdrop perfect for family pictures.
October also brings the long-running costume contest, a community favorite for decades. While the Lions Club organizes the contest, Eureka County FFA students add to the festivities with a reading night, where high school students dress up and act out beloved Halloween stories. They hand out candy through interactive skits and question-and-answer sessions.
One of the club’s biggest community service events is hosting the cook shack at the Eureka High School Rodeo. This multi-day event is quite an undertaking, and the funds raised help purchase the programs for the rodeo.
Mike and Diane Podborny have been dedicated Lions for more than 30 years. Quite a few new members have also joined the Lions Club: Gina Delavera, Jesse Gordon, Fiona Goettle, and Andy Goettle. The club is always looking for new members, so contact Abby Sweet, the current Lions Club president, if you are interested in joining.
By participating in these long-held traditions and ongoing acts of service, the Eureka Lions Club helps build community relationships and maintain the special character of this unique community.
