White Cane Days

White Cane Safety Day is celebrated in the United States on October 15th each year and correspondingly, all of the Lions Club’s in the United States participate in fund raising activities during the month of October called “White Cane Days”. Our volunteers spend several evenings and weekends positioned outside cooperating retail establishments so they can meet other members of their community. Their purpose is to increase the public awareness about the mission of the Lions as well as White Cane Safety Day, to collect donations for our supported programs and distributing “White Canes” and to possibly recruit new members into our organization.

Some History

The familiar “white cane” with a red band at the bottom is used by blind and visually impaired persons around the world. This simple device was invented in 1930 by Lion George A. Bonham of the Peoria, Illinois, USA, Lions Club. The white cane in our society has become one of the symbols of a blind person’s ability to come and go on his own. Its use has promoted courtesy and special consideration to the blind on our streets and highways.

In 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson, recognizing the importance of the white cane as a staff of independence for blind people, proclaimed October 15 as “White Cane Safety Day”. White Cane Safety Day was proclaimed to make people more fully aware of the meaning of the white cane and of the need for motorists to exercise special care for the blind persons who carry it.