By Andy Foltz
NKyTribune Reporter
The Lions of Kentucky will partner with the Kentucky Head Start Association to provide free vision screenings for all children enrolled in Head Start programs beginning this fall.
The statewide partnership was made possible through a nearly $100,000 grant from Lions Club International and a $75,000 donation from the Louisville Downtown Lions Club.
The partnership was announced at the Florence Lions Club last week, in conjunction with the Lions Club state convention.
State Representative Addia Wuchner was present during the announcement and said the partnership resonated with her.
“A long time ago, I was one of those children,” she said. She went on to say that after multiple eye surgeries, she was able to get her vision corrected.
“An image that always stuck with me was seeing the leaves on the trees for the first time,” she said. “To someone with vision problems, trees are just green.”
“Thank you for allowing more children to see the leaves on the trees,” she said.
“The motto is, “We Serve”,” said Mark Fietsch, president of the Louisville Downtown Lions Club. “There is nothing more gratifying as a club and as an individual than to serve kids. Many never have a proper eye screening, and without proper vision, it’s very hard to learn in today’s society.”
This will result in 25 new cameras, like the ones recently purchased by the Erlanger Lions Club, for use with the 20,000 children ages infant to 5 years old who are served by Head Start.
Both Lions Club members and Head Start personnel will be trained in the use of the screening equipment. Screenings will be performed from August through November, and within 45 days of a child being enrolled in Head Start.
“This is a just a start,” said Don Shove, the Lions Club International Director. “Anytime we can come together – any community, for any reason – we all win.”
“Need will never go away,” he added. “As long as there are children, there will be need.”
The new equipment is non-invasive, and takes seconds for a screening as opposed to older equipment which could take 15-20 minutes. The devices also have a 95% accuracy rate and can help identify vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, unequal pupil sizes, and lazy eye among other conditions.
All of these conditions, as well as many others, are issues that can be corrected if detected early enough, and treated.
Allyson Shelton, Executive Director of Head Start, said they serve more than 200,000 children and families state wide.
“We would like to express our excitement and sincere appreciation for this grand opportunity,” she said. “By partnering, we’re pooling resources for a better outcome.”
