What if people put their talents to
work improving their communities? Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, asked that simple
and world-changing question in 1917. Almost 100 years later, Lions Clubs
International is the world's largest service club organization, with 1.35
million members and more than 46,000 individual clubs around the world. The
Lions are acting on the same simple idea: let's improve our communities!
Helen Keller developed a fever at
18 months of age that left her blind and deaf. With the help of her teacher,
Anne Mansfield Sullivan of the Perkins
School for the Blind, Helen
learned sign language and Braille. A few years later, she learned to speak. As
an adult she became a promoter for people with disabilities. In 1925, she
attended the Lions Clubs International Convention and challenged Lions to
become, "Knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." Since
then, The Lions Club has worked tirelessly to aid the blind and visually
impaired.
Throughout the year, Lions collect
used eyeglasses and deliver them to regional Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers
(LERCs). LERC volunteers clean, sort by prescription strength and package the
glasses. Most of the recycled glasses
are distributed to people in need where they will have the greatest impact.
For children, clear vision means a
better education, healthier development and a better quality of life. For
adults, it means greater employment opportunity and economic strength. For
seniors it means less dependence on others.
On behalf of Helen Keller and The Lions Club, Meg Smith and Associates Real Estate worked in conjunction with the Bay Shore Lions Club to create the, "Great Eyeglass Challenge." This challenge required the collection of as many eyeglasses as possible from the Little League Teams in our area. We collected over 240 pairs of glasses to be recycled for the people in our communities. We are still collecting!
We would like to give a special thanks to Frank Boulton and the Long Island Ducks for donating the opportunity for the winning team to take the field with the Ducks at the September 13th game. Congratulations to the Lovegrove family, whose team donated the most amount of glasses.
On behalf of Helen Keller and The Lions Club, Meg Smith and Associates Real Estate worked in conjunction with the Bay Shore Lions Club to create the, "Great Eyeglass Challenge." This challenge required the collection of as many eyeglasses as possible from the Little League Teams in our area. We collected over 240 pairs of glasses to be recycled for the people in our communities. We are still collecting!
We would like to give a special thanks to Frank Boulton and the Long Island Ducks for donating the opportunity for the winning team to take the field with the Ducks at the September 13th game. Congratulations to the Lovegrove family, whose team donated the most amount of glasses.
In just about any dresser drawer there
is a pair of eyeglasses that are no longer being used. That same pair of
eyeglasses can change another person's life. If you have used eyeglasses you no
longer need, you can donate at anytime at 249 West Main Street in Bay Shore; we
are open everyday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Lions accept prescription and reading
glasses, sunglasses and plastic and metal frames. Children's glasses are
especially needed. Don’t miss your chance to provide your community with more
opportunities to grow and thrive.
