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John Williams patiently gets his eye screening. courtesy photo
The local Bristow Noon Lions Club held three local vision screening events this past week, the Bristow Lions members screened Gypsy Schools grades 1-3, the Jumpstart Preschool Center and the Bristow Pre-K and Kindergarten Center. The screening was led by Vision Screening Chairman, David Baker and several members of the club and members of the Bristow High School Leo’s Club.
This year, the Oklahoma Lions KidSight program through the Bristow Noon Lions Club has screened over 170 Bristow area children. Thanks to the availability of a new special vision screening camera located here in Bristow. Our club has been able to screen area schools, early childhood centers, and special events. Ages screened range from 1 year to 13 years old. Results from the screening events have referred over 20 children this year for further eye examination and doctor’s care.
Bristow Leos were key part of these screenings, with their interaction with the toddlers it made all the children more comfortable in this vision screening process while learning leadership and relationship building skills necessary for survival in todays’ educational and business environment.
Lions’ Club International’s, key initiative and global cause is to serve and to prevent avoidable blindness and improve quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired.
Our club members are invested in this program. Many volunteers from the club, along with the Leo's, have dedicated hours of service to local screenings, said Baker. In the past two weeks, three camera screening events were held at Gyspy School, Jumpstart for Kids, and Edison Elementary Pre-K.
Gypsy School Superintendent, Rachel Collins said, “making these types of programs available to the smaller school districts was crucial, and that having this testing available to all students was greatly helpful.” Additional events are already being scheduled as early as September. Baker said, “Our goal with this program is to have every child in our area is screened before the age of 6. Area schools and early childhood centers are encouraged to contact the Bristow Noon Lions Club to enroll in this free program”.
It is important to note that Jones Foundation was critical to the success of these events.
Last year the Jones Foundation granted the Bristow Noon Lion Club resources in a grant that allowed the Bristow Club through the Oklahoma and Lions Club International to purchase our own new vision screening camera and free access to other cameras as needed for larger vision screening events, Baker expressed.
Our local vision screening events are part of a national program to have every child in the country screened before the age of 6. The Bristow Noon Lions Club is working with the Oklahoma Lions Foundation and the Lions KidSight USA programs which provide screener certification, screening equipment, and additional resources at the local, state, and national levels. Area schools and early childhood centers are encouraged to contact the Bristow Noon Lions Club to enroll in this free program.For more information about Lions Clubs International, visit www.LionsClubs.org, then follow the Bristow Noon Lions Club on Facebook at https://m.facebook.com/BristowLionsClub/.