Lions’ Pancake Breakfast helps the blind

Lions’ Pancake Breakfast helps the blind

Annual fundraiser draws hungry crowd to VFW

news@theeveningtimes.com

The Jackson Browne lyrics, “Dr. my eyes have seen the years” could well have been the theme for as the Lions club opened the doors to its 66th annual Pancake Breakfast Tuesday morning at the VFW on South Avalon. A throng of hungry supporters made their way to the annual fundraiser for flapjacks and fixins.

Over the years Lions have been focused on meeting vision and eye care needs.

The Lions club traces its roots to 1917 Chicago businessman Melvin Jones, who told a local business group they should “reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities.” The Lions set sights on aiding the blind and visually impaired as Helen Keller addressed the group in 1925.

Today, the Lions Clubs International Network reaches 200 countries.

The fundraiser has been a big part of the Lions’ work locally over those 66 years. In 2014, Brian Petty, who logged more than four decades with the Lions, explained the need. He said the local group processes as many as 300 requests for assistance with eye care each year. The vision needs of children and working adults are considered for financial aid. The group makes partial payments for eye doctor exams, glasses, seeing eye dogs and surgery for qualified and approved cases. Petty said surgery may cost $1,000 to $1,500 per eye.

“The West Memphis Lions work closely with the Southern School of Optometry in Memphis,” said Petty. “There are several handy collection points for old glasses in the area.”

He went onto tell a couple of stories of lion hearted help that were particularly meaningful to him. One child who was helped at 18 months old with eye problems grew up to be a doctor. After many years he still remembered the grateful child hugging his leg.

Another testimonial was about a trucker who needed eye surgery to return to work.

The Lions also collect old prescription eye glasses and redistribute them free of charge to those in need.

After the glasses are collected

they go to optometry schools benefit students learning to identify prescription strength and label

them for the give away.

It’s always important to support local charitable organizations, but it’s even better when that support comes with a delicious pancake breakfast.

By the Evening Times News Staff