LOCAL LIONS CLUBS DO GREAT THINGS FOR MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY

By Kathy L. Collins

Brandon Auto Services Has Been Helping The Community With Its Auto Needs For 52 Years

Lions Club International is the world’s largest service club organization, having more than 1.4 million members in 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries. Locally, there are several vibrant Lions Clubs that strive to do good work for the community. These include the Plant City Lions Club, the Brandon Lions Club and the Fishhawk Lions Club.

Lions Club International has thousands of members and clubs globally, including three in our local area. Tese service clubs include the Plant City Lions Club, the Brandon Lions Club and the Fishhawk Lions Club.

The Plant City Lions Club was established on April 4, 1929.

Bridget Zickefoose with the Plant City Lions Club said, “Lions Clubs worldwide has made a significant impact in servicing those who are visually impaired as well as fight hunger, childhood cancer, humanitarian eforts, disaster relief and diabetes. It is through fundraisers such as the Florida Strawberry Festival Queens Pageant, Florida Strawberry Festival Food Booth [and] annual golf tournament the Plant City Lions Club can help contribute to the Lions’ mission.”

The Plant City Lions Club meets at Mt. Zion Assembly of God on the first Thursday of each month at 12 Noon and on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please visit www.plantcitylions.org.

The Brandon Lions Club was established in 1954. While the club has many services and activities, its primary focus is assisting those in need relating to sight conservation, prevention of blindness and dealing successfully with the loss of sight.

Joe Kuebler, treasurer for the Brandon Lions Club, said, “The main thing that could be said for the Brandon Lions Club is that we follow our Lions motto of ‘We Serve.’”

The Brandon Lions Club meets at 610 Limona Rd. in Brandon on the first and third Thursday of each month for dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a meeting at 7:30 p.m. For more information, please email brandonlionsclub@gmail.com.

The Fishhawk Lions Club, the newest area club, was established in 2020. This club contributes financially to traditional Lions charities, including the Lions Eye Institute in Ybor City.

Jack Bello, president of the Fishhawk Lions Club, said, “The Fishhawk Lions Club has served the community’s food banks, local charities and schools. The club’s latest projects include supporting foster children in local schools with its project of screening children’s eyes for numerous conditions. This endeavor will begin in the next few months.”

The Fishhawk Lions Club meets on the first Wednesday of the month at Grace Community United Methodist Church, located at 5708 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Lithia. For more information, please visit www.Fishhawklionsclub.com.

Steve Holland and Ken Anderson have been friends since grade school. They have also been the owners of Brandon Auto Services for more than three decades. “We have been part of the Brandon community for 52 years,” Holland said. “My father originally owned Holland’s Auto Service in Brandon on Robertson, across from where the old library used to be. When he decided to sell the business; Ken and I decided to buy the business.”

Brandon Auto Services is the community’s one-stop shop for a wide variety of auto needs. “We have parts for vehicles, and we do general repairs, engine/transmission repairs, collision repairs and tire services,” Holland said. “We work hard to purchase damaged or used vehicles so we can recycle parts. This is an extremely important part of the automotive supply chain.”

Their customers get options in purchasing a quality used part that has a possible warranty ranging from 101 days to lifetime. Think of purchasing a used part when you need a wheel, a car body part, transmission or an engine.

If you ask Holland and Anderson what makes Brandon Auto Services di f erent from other auto services in the area,

By Libby Hopkins

they’ll say it’s the variety of services they o f er their customers. “I think growing up in the Brandon community and working in the community is what makes us di f erent,” Holland said. “We give options to our customers. We can use used parts, new factory parts or recycled parts. Customers can choose how their vehicles are fixed.”

Brandon Auto Services also specializes in Corvette repairs and parts. “We have a large stock of quality of new and used Corvette parts,” Holland said. “We also do a lot of Corvette repairs.”

Its tire department o f ers both new and quality used tires and wheels, including new custom wheels. “All major brands of tires are available for installation, including Goodyear, Pirelli and Firestone,” Holland said.

Call Brandon Auto Services at 813689-8131 if you need auto or truck parts. For the collision department or mechanic shop, call 813-689-8255.

For more information about the services o f ered at Brandon Auto Services, visit its website at www.brandonauto. com. The shop is located at 3159 SR 60 E. in Valrico. Its hours of operation are 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.