Local Lions form partnership with Catholic Charities

By Josie Jones

After the Red Bridge Lions Club members and guests shared a dinner at Mama Leone’s, they gathered for an open meeting at the Red Bridge Mid-Continent Library on Tuesday evening, January 28. They had a special guest: Karen Noel, the Director of Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph. The non-profit recently moved its headquarters from midtown to south Kansas City in November.

The Red Bridge Lions Club and Catholic Charities have been partners since last August, collaborating on eye clinics to serve those who might not be able to afford proper eye care. Catholic Charities Serve & Lift Center also provides storage for the Lions’ equipment and donated eyeglasses. Their partnership aims to limit vision issues among the low-income and homeless populations. Noel highlighted the importance of their partnership by saying, “It is one of those great opportunities where our resources and your resources line up perfectly.”

Recent mobile eye clinics have served 89 and 139 patients. Individuals are seen by a licensed optometrist, who tests for visual acuity, glaucoma, and color blindness. Free eyeglasses are offered.

The club has received grants from the district for new automometers and a Lensmeter.

For years Lions Clubs have collected used eyeglasses at various drop-off sites. Currently there are over 25,000 pairs of collected glasses sitting in Jefferson City that are unprocessed for distribution. District Governor Mickey Beach said they are actively looking for volunteers to help rebag, tag, and send out what they can, and recycle what they cannot use.

The Lions are also focusing their energy on trying to make a change at the legislative level. In the state of Kansas organizations like the Lions Club or Catholic Charities aren’t allowed to dispense free pairs of glasses.

An upcoming free eye clinic is scheduled for March 8 in Warrensburg and August 16 at the Catholic Charities Serve & Lift Center, 8001 Longview Rd. Noel stated that their mission statement came from Pope John Paul, “We provide service when individuals are in a crisis, but then lift them to that dignity of self reliance.”