Mount Vernon Lions Club celebrates 55 years of service — and the Gutridges’ lifetime of giving

Sept. 23 was a significant day as the Mount Vernon Lions Club celebrated its 55th anniversary at a special meeting — a milestone that not only marks over five decades of community service but also highlights the unwavering dedication of Joe Gutridge, one of the club’s original founding members, with his wife Donna Gutridge faithfully by his side. While Joe chartered the club in 1970, Donna officially joined as a member in 1987 when women were first welcomed into Lions Clubs International. Together, they have built a lasting legacy that continues to inspire the heart of Mount Vernon.

Founded in 1917, Lions Clubs International is one of the largest and most respected service organizations in the world. It was Helen Keller’s famous challenge in 1925 — to become “Knights of the Blind in the crusade against darkness” — that launched the Lions’ long-standing mission to serve the vision-impaired. The Lions' motto, “We Serve,” remains the guiding principle behind everything the organization does.

From ice cream cones to a life of family and business legacy

Joe Gutridge began working at a Dairy Queen in the Newark area when he was just 13 years old. Severe hay fever made farm work nearly impossible, so he found his place behind the counter, serving up simple treats — at the time, just vanilla cones and dip, with no chocolate ice cream in sight.

Years later, when the business needed extra help, Joe’s mother hired a young woman named Donna. That decision would change both of their lives. Their first date was watching Holiday on Ice in Columbus in 1955, and three years later, on Sept. 7, 1958, Joe and Donna were married. This year, they celebrated an incredible 67 years of marriage, built on a foundation of teamwork, service, and community.

After Joe’s start at Dairy Queen, he transitioned into the furniture business. In 1966, Joe and Donna moved to Mount Vernon, where they purchased and operated House of Carpet, the Carpet Warehouse, and Rug-it stores for many years. In 1970, they took a chance by purchasing three waterfront lots in Apple Valley for $5,000 each — before the lake was filled and the dam was built in 1972. They built their home there in 1973 and lived on the property until 1985, when they sold it and moved into Donna’s aunt’s house on Sugar Street in Mount Vernon. After selling their carpet business, Joe and Donna worked together at several furniture stores, including Glicks Furniture and Connell's Furniture in Newark, where Joe served as store manager. They retired officially in 2001 after over four decades of working side by side.

A club built to serve

When Joe and Donna arrived in Mount Vernon, service clubs were thriving. Wanting to help others — particularly those who were blind or visually impaired — Joe took action. On Sept. 17, 1970, he chartered what became the third Lions Club in Mount Vernon, following clubs established in 1939 and 1954. Joe served as the club’s first greasurer.

“There were several blind students in the area at the time,” Joe recalled. “We saw an opportunity to help.”

The original 27 members quickly grew to 45 in just one week, and by 1985, the club had 68 active members. The earliest and continued efforts have focused on vision care — buying eyeglasses for those in need, covering exam costs, and helping transport individuals to Columbus for eye surgeries.

Donna supported the club from the start and helped launch the Mount Vernon Lioness Club in 1978, serving as its second president. When Lions Clubs International voted to allow women into the organization in 1987, Donna officially joined and went on to hold nearly every leadership role, including district president. She remembers that moment as one of the most meaningful milestones in her Lions' journey, noting that it marked a proud step forward for the organization.

She also fondly recalls spending time with blind children and witnessing how guide dogs assist them with independence and mobility — memories that still move her today.

Helping others, one broom at a time

Among the club’s most recognizable fundraisers is the broom sale, a long-standing Lions tradition. Joe recalls one day when a woman who needed a broom found only 23 cents in her house. “I gave her the broom anyway,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not about the money. It’s about helping someone in need.”

Over the years, Joe has served as president, secretary, treasurer, and zone chairman. Donna has held the titles of club president, secretary, treasurer, tail twister, lion tamer, and district president.

A mission that endures

Today, the Mount Vernon Lions Club has 14 members and continues to make a strong impact throughout Knox County. Their projects include preschool vision screenings, braille writer donations to local students, support for the Backpacks of Hope food program, contributions to the Ohio Eye Bank, and funding for guide dogs. They also host an annual corn hole tournament benefiting pediatric cancer initiatives.

Club President Dr. Phil Holzer, who was invited by Joe and Donna during an eye exam appointment, now leads the FL-41 project, donating specially tinted glasses to individuals with light sensitivity caused by migraines, concussions, or medications.

“Joe and Donna are not just mentors — they’re pillars,” Holzer said. “It’s humbling to see how much time they’ve dedicated to this community. I’m honored to follow in their footsteps.”

Dee Scott, program chair for the club and treasury management sales officer at The Killbuck Savings Bank Co., echoed that sentiment: “They have created a true legacy of dedication and pride helping others and giving back to their community,” she said. “Being part of this club connects people across generations and gives us all a chance to make a difference.”

When asked how she first got involved with the Mount Vernon Lions Club, Dee shared, “I was sponsored by my employer (KSB) and became a graduate of the Knox County Chamber Leadership class and looked to get involved in the community. Upon my graduation, I became a Chamber Ambassador but still had the desire to give back to my new community and volunteer with local charitable organizations. I remembered that the chamber asked several local service organizations and nonprofits to attend one of the leadership class sessions. I liked the Lions Club platform and thought the club aligned nicely with my convictions — sight, diabetes, hunger, environment, pediatric cancer.”

Looking to the future

Joe and Donna hope to see the Mount Vernon Lions Club grow and continue its work, even as many service organizations face declining membership.

“We don’t want to age out like other clubs,” Joe said. “The work is still needed.”

This fall, the club is holding its annual Poinsettia Sale. Orders are due by Nov. 28, with pickup or delivery on Dec. 9. Orders may be placed through any Lions Club member or by emailing Holzer at eyeguy33806@yahoo.com or Joe Gutridge at josephgutridge@yahoo.com.

The Mount Vernon Lions Club meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at Mulberry Church (205 N. Mulberry St., Back Door), and the club welcomes new members.

At Tuesday’s anniversary celebration, the club welcomed guest speaker Emily Bruch, AmeriCorps VISTACommunity Compost Coordinator from Community Roots (formerly Glass Gardens). Bruch spoke about the transformation of historic greenhouses on Gambier Street into vibrant spaces for agriculture, education, and sustainability.

Adding to the significance of the evening, Mayor Matt Starr honored Joe and Donna Gutridge with a proclamation recognizing their decades of dedicated service to Mount Vernon and the Lions Club’s 55 years of community impact.

From behind the counter of a Dairy Queen to the front lines of community service, Joe and Donna Gutridge’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when two people devote their lives to helping others.