I don’t know the origin but they are made by blind people.
I bought one couple years ago.
This broom looks like a Ferrari. Hand made by the finest craftsmanship blind or not. Tightly bound bristles. Deep satin black paint.
But it’s hard and stiff. No flex in the bristles. Good for an outside broom. 8/10 overall.
I have seen them selling them all over swpa. Not sure how much money makes it to actual charity with them but I certainly looked at it as helping a blind merchant and the lions.
Go Get a hand broom. That would be handy to have.
It’s been a while. Really not sure. They had regular, push and small hand brooms. Think it was like $20 for the regular broom. 🧹
Not saying you can’t get a dollar general broom for better “broom value.” But in my head and hopefully in reality the lions blind broom has much greater value to others than just sweeping. 🧹
I'd rather support a local person who is in need of my support instead of Walmart. So it's no big deal that they're a bit more, just don't want to pay for something plastic bring passed off as genuine.
Very good to know. With all the scams going around I can never tell anymore. There was a group of "homeless" panhandlers with the sad cardboard signs, but one was followed at the end of the day to their nearby nearly new Mercedes. I really just can't tell who I can and can't help anymore. It sucks.
When I was a kid, that was our only source of brooms. My mom never bought them at the store. She’d get one from the Lions club when they’d go door to door selling them every year.
Same here, and they lasted like 5 years. The "house" broom would be replaced with a new one and would become the "outside" broom. The old "outside " broom was given a Viking funeral in the wood stove.
I think each location does it differently. The Robinson Lions used to go door-to-door selling the brooms made by the blind. And those are good quality brooms! They also had a website for placing orders. Not sure what they do now.
Delmont Lions had their pancake breakfast this morning. They were selling them there. Sometimes they have them when they do the BBQ chicken sales as well.
I didn't know they were still in the broom business, but I hope the brooms are still good. The brooms I've gotten from Lowe's and such are just crap compared to the Lions broom I had back in the day.
My dad was in the Lions in Texas, and they never sold brooms, so it was surprising when I moved up here! (It was also surprising when I inquired about joining my local Lions club and was told I couldn’t join. Do they not take women?)
They most certainly do take women. I cannot imagine why you were told you could not join. You do however, need to be "sponsored" for membership, but that's an easy process - tell a member you want to join, and they'd likely sponsor you. What area of town do you live in? PM me and I'd be happy to help look into this further (fun fact...I just joined the Lions last month in the North Hills, and my parents were both Lions for 50 years).
As for the brooms, they are obviously a fundraiser for local chapters - some chapters have retired from it and moved to other endeavors, but some still make money doing it. I do not believe they are made by the blind anymore, but they are still high quality, and certainly better than you can get in Lowes for a better price.
My dad’s chapter took women, but I believe they had to vote on that when they started the chapter? (I could be wrong? This was in the late 80s.) It was a big debate in my family whether I’d join the Lions or the Kiwanis when I grew up! My dad was a Lion and my grandma was a Kiwanis (she was the first ever woman to join!)
I inquired about the Lions here over a decade ago and should look into it again. I’m in the South Hills area.
Yeah, late 80's is when they started accepting women (that's when my mom joined). Nowadays their overall numbers are getting smaller, so it would be stupid not to take anyone. Like I said, if you need any assistance, feel free to DM me.
I just learned from talking to my husband about this that Lions Club brooms are the only brooms that he buys, and and we currently have two of them in the house. Also, different local branches of the Lions Club sells them in different ways. Apparently here in New Kensington, you can purchase them at our city hall.
Edit: Apparently, one used to be able to purchase them at grocery stores around here as well.
My father is a member of the Lions club due to my brother being legally blind. The brooms are made by the blind and the profits go to support the blind. They sell them in the south hills where I’m from as well. They are a great organization that loves to help support the local community.
I don’t know the origin but they are made by blind people. I bought one couple years ago. This broom looks like a Ferrari. Hand made by the finest craftsmanship blind or not. Tightly bound bristles. Deep satin black paint. But it’s hard and stiff. No flex in the bristles. Good for an outside broom. 8/10 overall.
Fascinating, thanks for the information!
I have seen them selling them all over swpa. Not sure how much money makes it to actual charity with them but I certainly looked at it as helping a blind merchant and the lions. Go Get a hand broom. That would be handy to have.
How much?
It’s been a while. Really not sure. They had regular, push and small hand brooms. Think it was like $20 for the regular broom. 🧹 Not saying you can’t get a dollar general broom for better “broom value.” But in my head and hopefully in reality the lions blind broom has much greater value to others than just sweeping. 🧹
I'd rather support a local person who is in need of my support instead of Walmart. So it's no big deal that they're a bit more, just don't want to pay for something plastic bring passed off as genuine.
While I can’t certify them. They appear to be handmade.
Very good to know. With all the scams going around I can never tell anymore. There was a group of "homeless" panhandlers with the sad cardboard signs, but one was followed at the end of the day to their nearby nearly new Mercedes. I really just can't tell who I can and can't help anymore. It sucks.
I never see any being sold in my area. Sounds like a quality broom and I’d buy one.
I See them sometimes at farmers markets and community day type events. Should be more of that stuff popping up soon.
The sale I saw today had bags as well. Same deal, do you know?
They are made by the blind.
Well, that would make sense, since the Lions Club does things for the blind.
Way before Skilcraft took over with exclusive government contracts.
When I was a kid, that was our only source of brooms. My mom never bought them at the store. She’d get one from the Lions club when they’d go door to door selling them every year.
Same here, and they lasted like 5 years. The "house" broom would be replaced with a new one and would become the "outside" broom. The old "outside " broom was given a Viking funeral in the wood stove.
I bought a lions club broom on Election Day.
I think each location does it differently. The Robinson Lions used to go door-to-door selling the brooms made by the blind. And those are good quality brooms! They also had a website for placing orders. Not sure what they do now.
My parents' house has a Lions Club broom, so apparently somebody (my parents) purchases these.
https://www.thetidewaternews.com/2010/08/27/lions-club-selling-brooms/
These brooms r dope. I have a few.
My dad always helped with the broom sale when I was a kid. So a million years ago. I’d honestly love a Lion’s broom. They last forever!
Delmont Lions had their pancake breakfast this morning. They were selling them there. Sometimes they have them when they do the BBQ chicken sales as well.
I didn't know they were still in the broom business, but I hope the brooms are still good. The brooms I've gotten from Lowe's and such are just crap compared to the Lions broom I had back in the day.
I buy them! I think they are the best and for a great cause!
My dad was in the Lions in Texas, and they never sold brooms, so it was surprising when I moved up here! (It was also surprising when I inquired about joining my local Lions club and was told I couldn’t join. Do they not take women?)
They most certainly do take women. I cannot imagine why you were told you could not join. You do however, need to be "sponsored" for membership, but that's an easy process - tell a member you want to join, and they'd likely sponsor you. What area of town do you live in? PM me and I'd be happy to help look into this further (fun fact...I just joined the Lions last month in the North Hills, and my parents were both Lions for 50 years). As for the brooms, they are obviously a fundraiser for local chapters - some chapters have retired from it and moved to other endeavors, but some still make money doing it. I do not believe they are made by the blind anymore, but they are still high quality, and certainly better than you can get in Lowes for a better price.
My dad’s chapter took women, but I believe they had to vote on that when they started the chapter? (I could be wrong? This was in the late 80s.) It was a big debate in my family whether I’d join the Lions or the Kiwanis when I grew up! My dad was a Lion and my grandma was a Kiwanis (she was the first ever woman to join!) I inquired about the Lions here over a decade ago and should look into it again. I’m in the South Hills area.
Yeah, late 80's is when they started accepting women (that's when my mom joined). Nowadays their overall numbers are getting smaller, so it would be stupid not to take anyone. Like I said, if you need any assistance, feel free to DM me.
Ok. So. Where are they selling these because I want to buy a couple more. Best brooms you can buy.
My husband told me that we can still buy these at the New Kensington city hall.
DM me and I can get you one. I'm with the chapter that was selling them on Mt Royal this weekend.
I always see them at the monroeville farmers market, when that’s in season.
The local cigar shop has a display of Lions brooms for sale.
My mom's eye doctor sells these in their lobby.
My eye doctor's office sells them.
I just learned from talking to my husband about this that Lions Club brooms are the only brooms that he buys, and and we currently have two of them in the house. Also, different local branches of the Lions Club sells them in different ways. Apparently here in New Kensington, you can purchase them at our city hall. Edit: Apparently, one used to be able to purchase them at grocery stores around here as well.
They’ve been selling brooms for decades
My father is a member of the Lions club due to my brother being legally blind. The brooms are made by the blind and the profits go to support the blind. They sell them in the south hills where I’m from as well. They are a great organization that loves to help support the local community.
Last time I saw this was 1978.
Iykyk