FAIRMONT LIONS CLUB
1923 - 2008
HOW WE SERVE -- This is only a partial listing
SIGHT CONSERVATION AND WORK WITH THE BLIND
(The major focus of Lions clubs)
+ Eye exams and eyeglasses are provided free of charge to Fairmont residents unable to pay for their own eye care. A screening process assures that these services are provided to those who are truly in need. A local optometrist will provide the exam and provide prescription lenses and frames, if needed.
+ Periodic
eye screening clinics
held at various locations in Fairmont. In the past, we have conducted these free clinics, open to all, at schools, business locations, or in conjunction with our Lions Journey for Sight. Whenever you see the WV Lions Mobile Eye Screening Unit in operation, please stop by and get your eyes checked.
+
White cane
s have been purchased to aid Fairmonters who are blind in making their way safely around town.
+
Dog guides
are used by the blind to assist them in navigating through traffic or normal day-to-day activities. We provide financial support to both Pilot Dogs and Leader Dog schools.
+ Campaign
Sight First II
is a world-wide Lions fund raiser to raise $150 million to continue the work of Lions around the world. The first effort, begun in 1994, resulted in the prevention of serious vision loss for 27 million people, provided 80 million treatments for river blindness and restored sight to 7 million with cataract removal. We have built 213 eye hospitals and clinics and trained 305,000 ophthalmologists and other professional eye care workers. Lions are seeking to eradicate preventable blindness around the world. The Fairmont Lions Club is committing to raise $1000 for Campaign SightFirst II. Some of this funding will provide for better eye health in the United States, as well as other countries.
+ We
disseminate educational information
about diabetic eye disease, glaucoma and other eye health issues.
+ The Fairmont Lions Club collects your used eye wear for recycling. Used eyeglasses can be dropped in receptacles at Monongahela Valley Bank or the Middletown Mall, or handed to any Lion. They are delivered to a Lions processing facility where they are cleaned and sorted. Then they are used to provide improved sight to thousands in less well developed countries. Do you have an old pair or two sitting in a drawer? We'd love to take them off your hands.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
+ Lions
Peace Poster Contest
is being sponsored at Monongah Middle School and West Fairmont Middle School this year.
+The Fairmont Lions Club sponsored a high school student to the
Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar
in 2007 and hopes to provide this opportunity to a student from each of our two high schools in 2008.
+The annual Lions
Christmas party for the children at the Union Mission
has for over 6 decades brought smiles to the faces of underprivileged children and their families throughout Fairmont.
+ Members of the Fairmont Lions Club spent time helping to build the new
handicapped accessible playground
at Watson School in the summer of 2007. In addition, the club provided financial support for the project.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
include the local Relay for Life, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, WV Boys State, WV Girls State, Fairmont State scholarships and more.
