Service to youth, vision screenings, broom sales and more

Columbus Lions continue to offer free vision screening with their Welch-Allyn SPOT camera, and are assisting other clubs when called. Recent Saturdays found us at Polk County High School, where Thermal Belt Outreach

was sponsoring a back-to-school distribution of backpacks and other school supplies, then at the Tryon United Methodist Church where they were offering backpacks plus coats and haircuts.

At the high school, we screened some 42 people, referring eight to their eye care professional. At the church, we screened 85 and referred 19.

Our new broom chairman, Lion Jim Clement, has increased sales by his special decorations.

We have lost a much-loved Lion and two of our VIPs (Visually Impaired Persons) this month: Lion Ed Weeks was 101, and VIP Orval Bloom was 100 years old. VIP Virginia Kuykendall enjoyed our visits as much as our Lions enjoyed visiting her.

Our club gathered at our new president Fran Goodwin’s home for our annual summer potluck social meeting. Our Zone Chair Walter Vosburgh joined us for a sumptuous feast and a lot of good fellowship.

Two of our Lions volunteers were at Thermal Belt Outreach, packing healthy food for young people who don’t otherwise get much to eat on weekends. This activity and our vision screenings help us to fulfill the recent “service to youth” emphasis.

We thank all those who give us their used eyeglasses to be recycled in underdeveloped countries. We also appreciate your donations that fund our financial aid. Remember that 100 percent of your gift to Lions goes to help people, as Lions pay all overhead expenses themselves.

Please call Fran Goodwin at 828-894-2505 to schedule a vision screening or to help out by joining our Columbus Lions Club.

– article submitted by Garland Goodwin