Walk into the Boothbay Harbor Lions clubhouse on Lakeview Road and it’s easy to see what the Lions are all about.

Next to the door is a basket for members to donate old eyeglasses in good shape, which are given to those in need so they don't need to pay for new frames. Next to the kitchen is a flier for the March 6 American Red Cross Blood Drive held at the Y. A bin for donating old cell phones sits in the corner. The Lions Club is dedicated to helping others in the community and the world at large, and the Boothbay Region Lions strive to fulfill that ambition.

However, the Boothbay Region Lions have a problem that has plagued Lions Clubs all over: The clubhouse is falling apart.

The Lions Clubhouse is the former schoolhouse on Lakeview Road in Boothbay Harbor. The clubhouse was purchased from the town in 1960 for $1,035, using personal funds donated from 27 members.

“We don't want to lose this building,” former Lions Club president and current Tailtwister Tom Nickerson said (the Tailtwister is the member that fines members for minor infractions in good fun, for mistakes like not wearing ones nametag at meetings.). “There is so much history here. There is a list in the corner of World War II veterans that went to school here. My father, uncle and aunts all went to this school.

“It's about not just preserving the clubhouse, but a piece of Boothbay Harbor history.”

Part of that history is the large mural on the back wall, painted by artist Lonny Sisson, who lived in the harbor until 1963. “It's just beautiful,” vice president Jenn Hyson said. “And it can't be moved. If we lose the clubhouse, it will probably be painted over. We don't want that to happen.”

Currently the clubhouse needs a new furnace, new doors (the old ones have warped), new stove (two burners no longer work), and a new roof (the current one leaks in several places). A patch job was done on the roof last year, but it's not a permanent solution.

The cost of these repairs has been roughly estimated at $25,000.

The reason the clubhouse is in disrepair is because, according to the Lions charter, any money raised in the public sector is required to go back into the community.

So what have the Lions done for the community?

Last fall the Lions held a visit with Santa for kids, and during the winter they sponsored a local family in need. They got information on what the family needed for Christmas, and were able to provide “everything plus more,” according to Nickerson.

The club has supported families who have lost their homes in the area to fires, and donated towards local causes. Every year they sponsor a child’s attendance at  the YMCA’s summer camp, and they support the Ocean Classroom.

The Lions Club also donates around the world and elsewhere in the states, towards tsunami, wildfire and hurricane relief efforts, though their main focus is the Boothbay region community.

“Organizations come to us, and if we feel it's justifiable and deserves support, we donate,” Nickerson said.

Members of the Lions Club can donate directly towards maintenance and upkeep of the clubhouse, and many Lions members have donated their skills and time into maintaing the building over the past 53 years.

“Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, all Lions, have helped to keep this clubhouse repaired,” Hyson said. “But we've gone beyond what we can do on our own.”

So now, the Lions are reaching out to the community they have helped since 1953 for assistance in saving their clubhouse.

“The difficulty in raising money for the club itself is why most Lions Clubs around the county don't own their own clubhouses anymore,” Nickerson said. “We'd need to take out a mortgage on the building to afford it.”

Any donations to go towards the building can be sent to P.O. Box 598, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538, and need to be marked to go towards the “Lions Clubhouse.” Any donations not marked as such cannot be used for repairs.

Lori and Win Mitchell, who own Boothbay Craft Brewery and the Watershed Tavern, are holding a fundraiser for the Lions Club on March 28 at the Tavern at 301 Adams Pond Road in Boothbay. Since they are both Lions, they are able to donate directly to the building fund.

“We have brewed a special beer for the night, called Lions T-ALE,” Lori Mitchell said. “We will be showcasing that beer especially.”

The fundraiser will have light appetizers and a cash bar (no credit cards that night). It will take place from 5 to 8 p.m., and all proceeds from that night will go to support the building fund.

The Lions will also be holding a membership drive that night, signing up new members and telling interested people what the club is all about: fellowship and supporting the community. Members need to be 21 or over, and both men and women are welcome.

“Twenty years ago the Lions were primarily men,” Nickerson said. “I might get in trouble for saying this, but I think the only reason the club survived was the women joining. Now we are split down the middle, about 50 percent women and 50 percent men.”

“Spouses often join together, and whole families,” Hyson said. “When I first joined they asked me 'why would you want to join a bunch of men?' But it's truly a relaxed, welcoming environment.

“I feel blessed to be part of this group.”