The
Community Foundation of the Virginias, Inc., awarded a grant of $400 from the
American Electric Power Community Service Fund and $100 from the Unrestricted
Fund to the Bluefield, West Virginia Lions Club to cover expenses in a sight
conservation project at the 2010 Cole Chevy Mountain Festival held at Bluefield
City Park over Memorial Day weekend.
Sight conservation is a major focus of the Bluefield Club's parent organization, Lions International, and the 45 members of the Bluefield Lions work diligently each year to assist qualified individuals who have vision problems.
The project utilized the West Virginia Lions Sight Van to provide a free eye examination for 85 individuals. Club members said this is fewer examinations than normal because heavy rains on Friday kept attendance at the Festival below normal levels.
The exams were performed free of charge by Bluefield Ophthalmologist Dr. Stephen Blaydes, who donated his time and paid staff to assist him. Bluefield Lions Club volunteers also assisted Dr. Blaydes and the patients by helping complete forms for follow-up with their physician.
In the fiscal year running July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010 the Bluefield Lions Club received 41 requests for eye glasses from qualified individuals, and have approved more than $2,300 in expenditures to secure glasses for these individuals from participating medical professionals.
The Bluefield Lions normally receive 35 requests each year for assistance in acquiring eye glasses, although last year 91 individuals requested assistance, and 41 made requests this year, demonstrating the need for this community service.
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