Lions Club raising funds to help those who can’t afford glasses

FILE PHOTO

Thursday, <span class=”aBn”><span class=”aQJ”>March 13</span></span> is the night for the Smithfield Lions Club annual spaghetti dinner and everyone is invited to attend the event which starts at <span class=”aBn”><span class=”aQJ”>5 p.m.</span></span> at the Lion’s Lodge in Smithfield, 380 East 80 North.

Chairman Chad Downs says once again the dinner is a fundraiser for people who need but cannot afford glasses or other kinds of visual care. A longtime educator, Downs says many times a teacher or other adult would discover that a student trying to learn in school actually couldn’t see.

“If the family could not afford the check up and the examination and the glasses, then we would, by way of the nurse or the principal, refer the student to the Lions Club,” Downs explains, “and in a very anonymous way help the family receive the services they need.

“Many times I would see the students return to school with the glasses and their performance in school was improved.”

On KVNU’s Crosstalk show Tuesday, Downs and other guests said members of Lions Clubs often make humanitarian trips to other countries to help bring vision care to those who need it. Some members of the Smithfield club have been to Peru and Senegal on such missions.

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