The Malibu Lions Club supports a variety of local causes and various organizations that assist the visually impaired.
By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor
The Malibu Lions Club is promising a variety of vendors, a tasty barbecue and, of course, its traditional pancake breakfast at this year’s flea market. The annual event, now in its 24th year, takes place on Sept. 30 in the Malibu Courthouse parking lot. It is the local service club’s only fundraiser, and this year the affair has a new name, The Malibu Lions Club Marketplace and Flea Market.
“It has been renamed because we don’t want people to just think of it as traditional flea market items, which one would think means used items,” club President Marc Goodman said. “These vendors will have new goods, such as arts and crafts, furniture, original artwork and all types of products.”
The day will begin at 7 a.m. with the pancake breakfast, a meal that during the years has become a Malibu “place to be.” For just four dollars, one can feast on pancakes and sausage. The breakfast continues until 11 a.m.
At 8 a.m. the actual market will open. In addition to the many vendors selling a variety of products, there will also be food available throughout the day, which concludes at 5 p.m. A new feature available this year will be special Lions Club Hot Dogs and Lions Club Lemonade. There will also be a barbecue.
“[They’re] really great, [and make] incredible ribs and chicken,” Goodman said.
The festivities will raise money for the variety of programs and people that the Lions Club helps throughout the year, including Guide Dogs of America, which trains puppies to become guide dogs for the vision-impaired. The organization is currently sponsoring two dogs that are going through rigorous training.
“The Lions Club is known for helping the sight-impaired,” said Doug O’Brien, longtime Lion. “We also help out the Eye Institute in Santa Monica and other groups for the sight-impaired.”
The Lions also put on a Christmas party every year for underprivileged children. The children are given a party by the ocean with food and a Christmas gift, which, for some, will be the only one they receive during the holidays.
“It’s really a good event for the kids and it’s a good event for us,” O’Brien said. “What’s amazing is we get some kids who have never seen the ocean before.”
Additionally, the Lions sponsor Malibu Little League and Pony league teams, provide scholarships for high school students, support the Explorer Scout programs of the fire and sheriff’s departments, and donate to the disaster communications program at the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station. Also, they help with various other needs in the community.
“We step up when people have a problem, in a quiet type of way,” Goodman said.
Founded in 1951, the Malibu Lions Club is a chapter of the Lions Club International. The group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at Guido’s. Those interested in joining the club should contact Goodman at marc.goodman@pepperdine.edu.
The Malibu Lions Club Marketplace and Flea Market will take place at the Malibu Courthouse parking lot on Sept. 30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pancake breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. For more information, contact Goodman.