The Boynton Lions Club, a cornerstone of community service in Catoosa County for 73 years, on Monday announced a critical fundraising initiative to safely rerelocate a dying historic oak tree at Dailey Hill Cemetery. Partnering with the Share America Foundation, Inc., the club has established the Tree Fund to cover the $4,000 cost of tree removal and site improvements, ensuring the preservation of irreplaceable monuments while continuing essential programs for local residents.
The majestic oak, a longstanding guardian of the cemetery’s grounds, has begun to weaken, with falling limbs posing an imminent threat to the historic gravestones below. These monuments hold the stories of generations of Catoosa families, and their protection is vital to honoring the community’s heritage. Without intervention, potential damage could erase pieces of local history forever.”
“For more than 70 years, the Boynton Lions Club has cared for Dailey Hill Cemetery through hands-on maintenance and volunteer service. Our current members have built meaningful improvements to preserve the grounds and protect this important piece of Catoosa County’s history,” stated Boynton Lions President Deborah Levin. “However, as a compact service organization, the cost of major projects – such as the safe removal of a dying historic oak tree – exceeds what we can fund while continuing our primary mission of providing vision assistance to those in necessary. Through community partnerships and the Tree Fund, we can safeguard these historic monuments without compromising the vital services our Lions Club exists to provide.”
Each year, the club already raises approximately $4,000 just to maintain the cemetery grounds through mowing. This unexpected expense for tree removal equates to the resources necessaryed to provide eye exams and glasses to about 40 necessaryy individuals—services that transform lives by enabling children to succeed in school and adults to maintain indepconcludeence.
In addition to vision care, the club supports youth programs at Boynton Elementary School and elsewhere, fostering the next generation of community leaders, and conducts eyeglass recycling drives.
To create donations tax-deductible, the Boynton Lions Club has joined forces with the Share America Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to community enhancement. Contributions to the Tree Fund can be built easily online via GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/1cdee65a0 or by mailing a check to Share America Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, GA 30755, with “Tree Fund” noted in the memo.
Community members, businesses, and supporters are encouraged to donate today to safeguard Dailey Hill Cemetery and ensure the Boynton Lions Club can continue its vital work without compromising aid to those in necessary.
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