Vision screening at West Side Elementary, Lions Jenelle Stoner and Lindi Watkins, with student Annie Allen Alcazar. (Submitted photo)
This is the recycling bin for used eyeglasses at Reynolds at the front of the store. (Submitted photo)
For the 2021/2022 Sidney Lion's year, eight Eye Care Assistance applications and two Hearing Aide Assistance applications were approved. Sidney Lions paid $1,568 in assistance. These funds come directly from Sidney area residents through our two major fundraisers, Christmas wreath sales and our Lions Trap Shoot. So thank you Sidney area for supporting Lions and your community!
Each year, in partnership with the Richland County Health Department, Sidney Lions does vision screening at all Richland County Schools, using a PlusOptix screening machine. This machine was purchased with Lions fundraising money and a grant from the Foundation for Community Care, another great partnership. We screened 942 students during the past year, issuing 130 referral letters.
Students who don't pass their vision screening are given a letter from the Richland County Health Department encouraging the student's family to have their child's eyes tested by a doctor. An Eye Care Assistance application is included with each of those referral letters, for those who could use some financial support. This assistance, up to $300 per request, is available for children and adults.
Eye Care Assistance Applications are available by contacting Lion Enid Huotari, [email protected], or Sidney Eye Care Center.
For help with the purchase of hearing aids, Sidney Lions generally partners with Montana Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, where more financial assistance is available. That application can be found online at mtlionsshfnd.org, and should be sent to Sidney Lions, PO Box 521, Sidney, MT 59270.
Sidney Lions also help with recycling used eyeglasses, transporting them to the Northwest Lions Eyeglasses Recycling Center, where they are cleaned, prescriptions are determined and shipped to partners who distribute the glasses to developing countries and the U.S. The Sidney area donated approximately 1200 pairs of glasses during the last year. You can donate used eyeglasses to any Sidney Lion, or use drop off boxes at Reynolds Market, The Market (formerly IGA), Sidney Eye Care Center, Stockman Bank, Sidney Heath Center (outside the pharmacy), The Lodge, Ribbon & Rail and Fulkerson-Stevenson's Funeral Home. Thank you for helping us to change lives one pair of eyeglasses at a time!
In 1925, Helen Keller challenged Lions International to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness" at their Lions international convention. Sidney Lions is continuing that legacy with the help of our community through vision screening, financial assistance and eyeglass recycling. We serve!
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