Most Marco Islanders don’t see what the local Lions Club members do for the blind and visually impaired in our area, but we all should thank them for it and help them when we can.
For example, last month, four club members used portable equipment to screen 30 pre-school children in Immokalee for sight and hearing problems. Of those children, seven had sight or hearing problems that will need professional care.
Marco Lions Club member Dave Gardner says catching such problems at an early age can be critical. “Early diagnosis and treatment can mean a quick recovery, and in may cases, can bring these children up to normal sight and hearing levels.”
The Marco Lions also is the group that distributes all those “Recycle for Sight” eyeglass collection boxes you see around town, providing free eyeglasses for those who need them.
The Lions Club raises money through its “White Cane” drives and annual pancake breakfasts to benefit area organizations geared to helping the blind. Members have added identifying diabetics and helping them get help for the condition.
The Lions members invite all islanders to join them. For more information, phone President Bruce Miles at 394-1020.
Blind, visually impaired kids can have fun this summer
Do you know a child who is blind or visually impaired and wants to have fun this summer? What kid doesn’t! So please let the child’s family know they can sign up for a free camp given by Lighthouse of Collier this summer.
The Second Annual Summer Camp will be held in July every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Naples Beach Hotel. And there will be field trips too.
Campers will enjoy horseback riding, tennis lessons, music, picnics in the park, crafts, large print cards and board games and making new friends. They also will learn to use magnifiers, closed circuit TVs, talking computers and other equipment that assists the blind and visually impaired.
“One of the things we tried to do in camp last year,” says Arts and Crafts Coordinator Sheila Miles, “was to show that even though these children have special needs, they still are children who love to do children’s things. We want people to remember that they are kids who want to have fun.”
Because of privacy laws, it’s difficult to locate blind and visually impaired children, but the Lighthouse of Collier estimates that there are more than 50 children in Collier County who have acute sight problems.
The Lighthouse PR director, Kathleen Peck, says that when parents of visually impaired children get details on what the camp offers, chances are they’ll be enthused about it. Besides engaging the children and letting them participate and have some fun, it’s also an opportunity for the parents to get together.”
The camp is made possible by the generous donations of Mr. and Mrs. Scribner, Elaine Cline Cleaning, Inc., and The Naples Beach Hotel.
Lighthouse of Collier is the only Center for Blindness and Vision Loss in Collier County. There are an estimated 14,000 blind/visually impaired people in Collier County.
Contact Lighthouse of Collier at lighthouseofcollier.org or call 239-430-EYE4 (3934).
Chris Curle is a former news anchor for CNN and for ABC-TV stations in Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Houston. E-mail chris@chriscurle.com.
Don is a former ABC News correspondent and bureau chief and a former news anchor for CNN and ABC-TV, in Atlanta. His Farmer File column appears Fridays in the Naples Daily News. E-mail: don@donfarmer.com.
没有评论:
发表评论