Sight Saved for Thousands During Lions Sight Week 2012
Thanks to some incredible volunteers, preschoolers across Missouri are better prepared for kindergarten this fall. In recognition of Lions Sight Week (LSW), May 6-12, volunteers from Missouri Lions Clubs partnered with the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation’s Children’s Vision Screening (CVS) program to provide free vision screenings to daycares and preschools.
The result – a record-breaking 2,555 children were screened in one week for a variety of vision problems, any of which could steal their eyesight and affect their ability to learn in school.
Said Dr. Ron Walkenbach, executive director of the Foundation, “Since 1995, the Foundation has screened more than 240,000 children thanks to financial and volunteer support from Missouri Lions Clubs. Often, a free vision screening from the Foundation is the first and only screening these children will receive before they reach age five. Knowing that sight was preserved for 2,555 kids last week is just incredible, and we can’t thank the Lions Clubs enough for their help!”
Lions Clubs that particpated at screenings included:
• Chamois Lions
• Cosby Lions
• East Perry County Lions
• Gower Lions
• House Springs Lions
• Jamesport Lions
• Jefferson City Breakfast Lions
• Jefferson City Evening Lions
• Jefferson City Host Lions
• Leeton Lions
• Liberty Lions
• Morrisville Lions
• Owensville Lions
• Richwoods Lions
• Springfield Queen City Lions
• St. Charles Lions
• St. Clair Lions
• St. Joseph Eastside Lions
• Washington Lions
In addition to assisting the CVS program, Lions members hosted eye and organ donor drives in conjunction with LSW. Last year, through the work of Heartland Lions Eye Banks and the generosity of eye donors, 2,900 cornea transplant recipients received the gift of sight. However, more than 112,000 individuals nationwide are waiting for organ transplants. Because of their dedication to save lives, Lions clubs in Caruthersville, Marshfield, Poplar Bluff, and Smithville sponsored donor registry drives in their communities.
For more photos from the event, please visit the Foundation's Flickr page. Thank you to everyone who volunteered!
