Collaborating with District 18-I Lions and Lions Club International Foundation to Better Serve Local Patients
Dedicated Volunteers and Donated Eyewear Enable Life Changing Missions Abroad continued....
Collaborating with District 18-I Lions in the coming months, we will be investing approximately $100,000 to upgrade the optical equipment at the Chamblee Vision Clinic which currently uses vision equipment installed when the clinic opened in 2010. This “latest technology” equipment will enhance the patient experience and attract more partner optometrists and ophthalmologists to serve at the clinic. Thanks to the generous efforts of the Lions of District 18-I and matching grants provided by Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) we will obtain new equipment for the Chamblee clinic the beginning of 2024. In late April 2023, this initiative began. Given the location of the clinic and the patients it serves, GLLF approached the District 18-I District Governor, Steve Helwig, for his guidance and support. He quickly mobilized his Cabinet to approve this effort utilizing available District Impact Grant funds as part of the required local funding. Within District 18-I, Lion Eric Lu and the Chinese American Lions Club Association (CALCA) also made a very generous contribution that when combined with the District’s contribution generated $50,000 of Lions’ investment in this project eligible for a matching grant through LCIF. This matching grant program helps “provide capital funding
Lions Eric Lu and Dr. Charles Yu, OD of the Chinese American Lions Club of Atlanta with Beth Ehrhardt and Fran Schefer accepting the $35K contribution check. Fran Schefer and Beth Ehrhardt with John Rudert, MD-18 LCIF Coordinator and District 18-I Cabinet member
Spotlight on June 2022 Mission Trip In June 2022, Dave Crumley of Bogart, GA working with the Faith Presbyterian Church traveled to Nicaragua to assist local churches in providing medical care to their congregations. Each church (three in total) conducted one-day medical clinics, and using recycled prescription eyewear donated by GLLF, were able to provide over 200 people with life changing vision correction. There was a 12-year-old boy named Gabriel (pictured above, second from the right) who has had sight issues for all of his life. Dave’s mission team provided him with the best glasses they had on hand, but determined he had issues with his eyes that needed additional care. •
The Center operates entirely on the efforts of volunteers. While Lions from around the state collect donations for the Recycling Center, a few local Lions Clubs along with support from community businesses and civic groups process the collected glasses. •
For more information on volunteering or collection inquiries, visit: lionslighthouse.org
to expand Lion-initiated humanitarian service projects addressing critical and social needs around the globe.” The LCIF Board recently approved our grant
application to provide improved vision service to the greater DeKalb County/Atlanta area, and we are ready to move forward with purchasing the desired new optical equipment for the Chamblee Clinic. • Dedicated Volunteers and Donated Eyewear Enable Life Changing Missions Abroad
Recycling Center by the Numbers (July 2022 - June 2023) 110,542 Used eyeglasses processed 56,554 Glasses sent to overseas missions 21 Developing Countries served 1,940 Volunteer Hours logged 63% of Hours represented by Lions of Georgia led by Snellville Lions 246
We were able to partner with an ophthalmologist who was able to help Gabriel. It started with your glasses. Over the last year he has improved in school and his future is brighter.
The Ken Massengale Recycling Center at Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. Recycled eyeglasses are processed and sent out on mission trips in foreign countries. In FY 2023, the Snellville Lions (pictured left) were the most active Lions Club based on volunteer time while State Farm Insurance associates (pictured on page 9) donated over 200 cumulative volunteer hours as a top business partner.
- Dave Crumley
Volunteers helped to broaden our mission
continues on page 9...
8 / 18
9 / 18
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker