The Lemon Grove and Spring Valley Lions Clubs are hosting its Lions for Sight event at Mt. Miguel High School in Spring Valley where they will offer free vision screenings, consultations, and a pair of refurbished eyeglasses. The event takes place at Mt. Miguel’s Multicultural Center on Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free in a firstcome, first-served basis. All ages are welcome, and no qualifications are needed.
Lemon Grove Lions Club President Ken Burke said anyone who needs an eye exam, or a pair of glasses is free to attend the event, see an optometrist, get a prescription, and walk out the same day with a free pair of glasses. Burke said that anyone that has old eyeglass frames is free to drop them off at this event.
“Our club and other clubs have special donation boxes at different optical offices like Walmart or Sam’s Club and others for people to turn in their old frames,” he said. “We collect them and the get put into the system. Part of the program is the supply for the eyeglasses we hand out during the vision screenings,” adding asking your optometrist is the best way to find locations to drop off used frames.
Burke said they have reached out for volunteers through the different Lions Clubs, but still needs about 20 more volunteers for the event and he and Spring Valley Lions Club President Scott Leslie are still looking for optometrists to join the event.
Burke said different clubs are part of the Lions’ vision programs, and there are 15 Lions districts in California. Lions District 4L6 is San Diego and Imperial counties with 55 clubs within the district.
“Lately, for example, some of these clubs have gone out to schools and preschools and provided this vision screening for these kids,” he said. “It is not just this event, but we try to do this through Lions Clubs throughout San Diego County.”
