Seeing a clearer future
Lions Club donation helps Vale schools
By Sean Hart
Argus Observer
Saturday, November 7, 2009 10:17 PM PST
VALE — The Vale Lions Club recently purchased a Titmus 200 vision screening machine for Vale-area schools to utilize to diagnose vision deficiencies.
“Sight and hearing — that’s what the Lions Club does,” Vale Lions Club President Steve Paulsen said. “Helen Keller approached the Lions Club when it all started years ago, and that’s been our main focus.”
The Lions Club had helped provide screening for Vale schools in the past, but the program faded away, Paulsen said.
“We used to have machines here years ago,” Paulsen said, “but we couldn’t get parts for those old machines.”
So, spurred by a community need, the Lions Club felt it was time to invest in new equipment.
“Just the other day, I had a high school teacher call me and ask where they could get eye exams because they had a sophomore that couldn’t see,” Paulsen said. “There comes a time, if you need glasses, you need to get them.”
The new machine cost about $2,400 with a travel case and the full set of test slides, Paulsen said.
The machine can perform eight different tests, according to Nicole Hansen, an Americorps volunteer who is assisting the Lions Foundation, which trained local Lions Club members, elementary and high school teachers and Education Service District employees how to use the machine, Nov. 5 at Vale Elementary School.
“These (machines) are great actually. I’ve seen some older models, but these work fantastic,” she said. “It’s nice to have so many tests on one machine. And it works for all age groups.
“Being preventative about your health is beneficial to everyone involved. It’s hard for me to really see a downside to it.”
Paulsen said the goal, this year, is to get through a backlog of students who need vision screenings.
“The main thrust of the school district, this year, is to get caught up with the ones (grade levels) optometrists recommend we do,” Paulsen said. “That way, we’ll only have to do certain grade levels in the future.”
The Lions Club is also currently holding its annual 50/50 fundraiser, where the winner of the drawing will win half of the pot with the other half going into the club’s sight and hearing fund, Paulsen said. Tickets are available for $1 from any Vale Lions Club member and at most businesses and banks in Vale. The drawing will be held Dec. 12.
Lifestyle Editor Sean Hart can be contacted at SeanH@argusobserver.com.
