ATMORE, Ala. — Atmore Farm and Garden owner David Goodman served as the speaker at the Atmore Lions Club’s regular meeting on Sept. 16.
Goodman spoke of the journey he took to purchase the local business, how he learned about plants in many areas of the world, and the work of trying to get those plants to grow in the local climate zone.
That last point is a persistent practical matter for growers along the central Gulf Coast. South Alabama’s combination of high summer heat, high humidity, heavy rainfall and generally mild winters supports plants that would not survive farther north while stressing others that need cold dormancy or drier conditions. A garden center owner’s working knowledge is largely accumulated through direct trial in local soil and weather.
Club Business
Discussions were held regarding preparation for Taste of the South, updates on the Christmas parade and Williams Station Day.
Those three events represent a substantial share of Atmore’s annual community calendar. Williams Station Day, named for the settlement that preceded the city, is among Atmore’s longest-running festivals. Service clubs like the Lions typically supply volunteer labor and logistical support for events of that kind rather than organizing them alone.
Upcoming Service Projects
Members will hold a food drive on Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. until noon at Walmart.
Lions will also pick up trash along Highway 31 on Oct. 17.
A November food drive is timed to the period when local food pantries face their heaviest demand, between the holidays and the winter months. Grocery-store collection points work because donors can buy and donate in a single stop, which produces substantially higher volume than asking people to bring items from home.
The Lions Club Model
Lions Clubs International is among the largest service organizations in the world, and its clubs are best known for work related to vision — eyeglass collection, vision screening and support for the blind — alongside broader local service. Individual clubs set their own project calendars based on community need.
The Atmore club’s current slate reflects that pattern: a food drive, a roadside cleanup and volunteer support for community festivals, all organized at the local level.
Next Meeting
The Lions will next meet on Oct. 7 at the hospital.
Residents interested in the club’s work or in attending a meeting can inquire through the Atmore Lions Club.