The Spirit of Community in Delano is defined by the
Creativity, Resilience, and Community Investment of its people.
Delano Lions
The Delano Lions Club supports the community through local events, fundraising, and infrastructure projects. The Lions Club was organized in Delano in November 1965 with twenty-one members on the original list and several more joining by the charter night, December 9, 1965. The Lions Club was organized to fill the need in Delano for a service club. The organizing members felt that they could contribute to the overall improvement of the Delano community. Over the next several years the Lions sponsored Cub Scouts, bike safety clinics, Tots-to-Teens Talent contests, the Lions Eye Bank, the Christmas lighting contest, and snowmobile races. They furnished playground equipment and a shelter in Central Park, and became instrumental in the 4th of July celebration. The Lions purchased a Rescue truck for the Delano Fire Department and were involved in having Delano join the Great River Regional library system, and in financing the renovation of the library. The Lions built the entryway to the Franklin Township Hall and were founding members of the original Delano Community Development Committee that brought Industrial Louvers (then ACP) to Delano.
In 1966 they sponsored the Innertube Derby as part of Delano’s 4th of July celebration. The race went from the half-way bridge on the Crow River to Bridge Street in Delano. The winner was Dave Zitzloff, Carl Johannsen was second, and Jim Stahlke came in third.
In 1977 the Lions developed a new hockey rink on Delano Park property near the waste water treatment plant and turned it over to the city.
The Delano Lions are currently active hosting Christmas trees sells and doing a neighborhood tree pickup after the holidays. They continue to collect used eyeglasses and hearing aids. Delano Lions recruit, organize and facilitate Delano’s 4th of July parade, Minnesota’s largest and longest. And they sponsor the BBQ Rib Fest.
The content of this page is brought to you by the Delano Spirit of Community Trail Committee in honor of Delano's 150th Anniversary.